Staff Reporter:
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday said they are in favor of free, fair and inclusive election, not for or against any political party.
Responding to Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League Secretary General Obaidul Quader’s comment that TIB is towing BNP’s line, TIB said that it is on the one hand self-embarrassing for him, and on the other reflects the mindset that treat all critics as political opponents.
In response to the Minister’s question in a context where TIB considers the possibility of a truly inclu-sive election to have been ruled out as assessed by all available political and electoral indicators before and after the announcement of the election schedule, Executive Director of TIB, Iftekharuzzaman said, it should not be unknown to the learned Minister that an inclusive election can be held only in a situation where level playing field for all aspiring parties and candidates is ensured through a neutral, non-partisan and conflict of interest-free role of the Election Commission, Election time Government, administration and law enforcement agencies.
TIB condemned the attempt by the Awami League general secretary to conflate TIB with BNP due to expressing doubts regarding a participatory election.
TIB clarified, “TIB is an apolitical entity with no affiliations towards any political party. It was deeply disappointing to hear such unfounded statements from a key minister of the state and the second-in-command of the ruling political party.”
“TIB stands firm in its commitment to democracy and good governance, opposing anti-democratic forc-es. The ongoing opportunistic hostilities from the two major political parties only served to highlight the neutrality of our organization”, Iftekharuzzaman added.
