The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

European Parliament members called on Bangladesh government to lift the state of emergency as the most important step required to prepare for the holding of the country's next parliamentary elections.

The call was made in a joint motion for resolution on the situation in Bangladesh at the EU parliament in Brussels on July 9. The motion was moved by Pasqualina Napoletano, Robert Evans, Charles Tannock, Th. Mann, Bernd Posselt, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Johan Van Hecke, Mariela Baeva and Marios Matsakis, Roberto Musacchio, Jean Lambert and Jan Masiel, representing different groups in the parliament, according to a message received here Thursday.

The resolution calls on the European Commission and the Council to play a more "pro-active role and to impress on the Bangladesh government the need for a speedy and complete withdrawal of the state of emergency, and of all regulations adopted within its context".

It called for free and fair elections conducted in accordance with international standards, with the participation of all parties. It also called for the EU Election Observation Mission to resume its activities as soon as this is feasible and advisable.

The resolution called on EU Member-States Missions and the Commission Delegation in Bangladesh to monitor carefully the human rights and political situation in Bangladesh.

It welcomed the release of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on humanitarian grounds.

The Euro parliamentarians urged the government to make sure that members of Bangladesh's ethnic and religious minorities be in a position to freely cast their votes. It expressed concern about "press censorship" and calls for freedom of the press in the pre-electoral period.

The resolution urged the government to ensure that its new Anti-Terrorism Ordinance responds to internationally recognized legal standards on combating terrorism such as recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on Counterterrorism and Human Rights.

It also called on the government to abolish the death-penalty law and immediately put an end to what they called recent wave of "mass arbitrary arrests" and the "harassment" of political opponents or journalists under the state of emergency.

The EU Parliament members are deeply concerned by reports on torture by the authorities and urged the government to ensure the basic rights for a due process for all detainees and guarantee those charged to a fair trial.

The resolution urged the authorities that the thousands detained to be either charged on the basis of credible evidence or release those detained in custody.

It congratulated the caretaker government on its making progress in preparing for parliamentary elections and on making essential progress with the reform of the electoral process and the drawing up of an accurate electoral register by the authorities.

The resolution called on the Bangladesh government to provide maximum scope for a large-scale mobilisation of all sectors of society, environmental and other non-governmental organisations, journalists and scientists, in order to prepare the country for the upcoming climate change-induced disasters.

They consider the emergency rule as an "alarming obstacle" on the way to achieving this goal.

The EU parliament members believe that the G8 Summit has an enormous responsibility to avert further acceleration of the climate change and catastrophes that threaten the lives of millions in Bangladesh and elsewhere by adopting effective and far-reaching measures to curb CO2 emissions.

The EU Parliament resolution instructed its President to forward this resolution to Council, the Commission, the SAARC member-states and the Bangladeshi Government.