City Election: UK envoy hopeful of free, fair contest
He will be joining other colleagues in the diplomatic community here to see a democratic process and how the election goes
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Thursday hoped that there will be a "free and fair" contest in the elections to the two city Dhaka city corporations where people will be able to cast their votes in a "festive and peaceful" atmosphere.
He said he will be joining other colleagues in the diplomatic community here to see a democratic process and how the election goes.
The British High Commissioner made the remarks while talking to reporters at his residence to discuss the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU).
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Elections to both the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will be held on February 1.
High Commissioner Dickson said he met all four mayoral candidates and had good discussions with the Election Commission, and noted that a level-playing field is crucial. "I'm very pleased."
He said that this is going to be a big democratic practice and hoped it will remain free from violence noting that violence should not be part of democratic process anywhere, including in Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner said this is duty of the diplomats to talk to people and know what is going on in the country.
The UK formally leaves the EU on Friday but it will immediately enter an 11-month transition period.
During the transition, the UK will continue to obey EU rules and pay money to the EU. Most things, according to the BBC, will stay the same but there will be some changes.
