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In a renewed rebuttal, the government has denounced the Tuesday Group's move to hold a "so-called" international conference on electoral process of Bangladesh in the city as "unwarranted", reports UNB.
"If any sovereign country feels that some move by foreign governments is tantamount to interference into its internal affairs, it will oppose the move. It is normal practice," Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin told a weekly press briefing at the Foreign Ministry Thursday.
The terse but strongly worded reaction came for the second time in a weak as the Tuesday Group, an informal club of Bangladesh's development partners, expressed disappointment over the government decision not to welcome its international conference on 'Best Electoral Practices' scheduled for January 22-23 next year.
The Group, however, postponed its planned high-level electoral conference 'until a more opportune time'.
Asked about the latest government position after the Group's reaction made Wednesday, Hemayet said, "The government's position on the so-called conference on best electoral practices is well-known and has been clearly stated several times."
He made it clear that "Bangladesh and its people are deeply committed to democracy. Governments are elected through free and fair elections, the mechanisms of which are codified in the Constitution of the country."
Hemayet further said past few elections had been held in a free, fair and democratic manner, which has been recognised by international community.
"Elections in our country are a matter for the people of Bangladesh to decide. The proposal to hold the proposed international conference on election reforms, in the opinion of the government, is unwarranted," the foreign secretary said.
Last Sunday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Reaz Rahman turned down the Tuesday Group's plea for holding its conference terming it as interference into domestic politics. It is 'counterproductive', he had said.
Reaz made the remarks when the Tuesday Group's chair, outgoing Canadian High Commissioner in Bangladesh David Sproule and Norwegian Ambassador Aud Lise Norheim met him at his office.
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