Bangladesh election environment ‘repressive’: UN special rapporteur

Describing the election environment in Bangladesh as ‘repressive’, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, has said he is ‘deeply disturbed’ by it.

"I'm deeply disturbed by the repressive environment surrounding upcoming elections despite our several calls on authorities to urgently end the crackdown on political activists & civil society actors," he said on his official X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) handle on Friday.

"I reiterate my earlier calls to refrain from excessive use of police force, violence and criminalisation of CSOs, protesters and opposition in a bid to silence dissent," said Voule.

"Authorities have the duty to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and association and the right to political participation, ahead of, during and after elections," he said.

Bangladesh is poised to hold its 12th parliamentary elections on Sunday despite the boycott by main opposition BNP and its allies.