EU parliament for forming 'strong EC'

The visiting delegation of European Parliament (EP) today called upon the government to form a "strong election commission" for the next national elections in which people will have the full confidence.

EP's Chair of the Committee on International Trade Bernd Lange, who led the delegation, made the call while addressing a press briefing at its Dhaka office this afternoon, on the concluding day of their four-day visit.

The EC is required to be so strong as to enable to hold free and fair elections in which people will have their full confidence and trust, he said.

He stressed the need for a proper democratic environment ahead of the next general elections. "It (next general election) must be held in the proper democratic way."

Lange also suggested the government seek opinions from different political parties and independent experts to form the election commission.

Appreciating the country's improvement in its economic sector, Lange said that fundamental human rights, freedom of expressions and labour rights must not be narrowed down. "These must be improved in the coming months and years."

The 14-member delegation of the International Trade Committee of EP arrived at Bangladesh on November 14 to assess the progress of achieving improvement in health and safety as well as labour rights in export-driven sectors like the readymade garment (RMG).

The delegation also asked the government to uphold democratic atmosphere, labour rights and environmental status as the "conditions" for continuing with duty privilege to the UK.

Jean Lambert (Green Party-UK), chair of the delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia of the European Parliament, also spoke at the press conference.

During the visit, the delegation called on Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, PM's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and business leaders and women entrepreneurs.

They also visited a number of garment factories at Tongi and Joydevpur in Gazipur.