Official: EU observers will pay 'special attention' to minority issues in Bangladesh

DHAKA: Taking note of continuous violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh, the EU Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) on Sunday said its observers will pay "special attention" to minority issues during the Feb 12 polls. The remarks come days after a Hindu man committed suicide after being "humiliated and assaulted" by a shopkeeper for a 500 taka, or Rs 370, debt. Joy Mohapatra died by consuming poison on Friday, the eighth Hindu man, including a journalist, to die since the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on Dec 18. India has slammed the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt over the relentless attacks on minorities and their properties, and watering down the incidents. Talking to reporters on intimidation of minority groups, EU-EOM chief observer Ivars Ijabs said, "This is, of course, an important issue." "We are going to send our observers to all 64 districts of the country and they will be asked to pay special attention to such a possibility (intimidation)," said Ivars said. On pre or post poll violence, he said, "This is a problem in many ways, but I still hope and I still expect the Bangladeshis (will address this)...elections are understanding the seriousness of this issue, because, as it was said, one life lost is one too many." Ivars, a member of the European Parliament from Latvia, also called for "inclusive and participatory" polls. On why EU-EOM has changed its definition of "inclusive and participatory polls" to say "all groups in society" from the earlier "participation of all political parties" in the backdrop of the ban on Awami League falling Sheikh Hasina's ouster as PM, he said, "We all know that the party registration is an issue and we know that this has been also historically complicated issue here regarding national reconciliation and transitional justice. We are not going to comment on these issues."