Bangladeshi pre-election unrest sparks concern from Secretary-General

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today expressed concern at unrest in Bangladesh ahead of national elections scheduled for January and announced he is dispatching a senior United Nations official to the country this week.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Annan said he wanted to “underscore the importance of a peaceful and transparent environment so that these important elections can enjoy the full confidence of the people of Bangladesh.”

Craig Jenness, Director of the UN’s Electoral Assistance Division, will visit Bangladesh from Wednesday to Friday on Mr. Annan’s behalf “to offer continued UN support to the process,” the statement added.

Mr. Jenness will hold meetings with the head of the caretaker government and other senior officials, as well as election authorities, representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The impoverished South Asian nation is slated to hold national elections in January, but demonstrations and clashes between supporters of rival political groups in recent weeks have left at least three people dead, according to media reports. Under the constitution, the caretaker government is charged with overseeing and ensuring free and fair elections.