By Canadian Press

Liberal MP, Tory offside with federal stance on Bangladesh election fairness

Jan 11, 2024 | 10:27 AM

OTTAWA — A Liberal MP and a Conservative senator are offside with the Trudeau government’s position on Bangladesh’s recent election.

Officials in that country invited Ottawa MP Chandra Arya and Sen. Victor Oh to observe the Jan. 7 election, which the main opposition party boycotted, arguing the state would not hold a free vote.

At a press conference in Dhaka the day of the election both parliamentarians said the vote was “free and fair.”

But the next day Canada’s high commission in Bangladesh posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that any Canadian election observers are acting independently and that their views are not endorsed by the Government of Canada.

Global Affairs Canada later released its own statement, saying the vote “has fallen short of the principles of democracy and freedom.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Nipa Banerjee, a University of Ottawa who has extensively researched Bangladesh, says the country is not a full democracy but should be praised for lifting people out of poverty and avoiding wide-scale conflict.

Neither Arya nor Oh have yet responded to a request for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2024.

The Canadian Press