Scottish MP Martin Day said that the conduct of voting on polling day had been very smooth and very impressive, although turnout was slightly low. Paulo Kasaka, Executive Director of South Asia Democratic Forum, said that the electoral process in Bangladesh is very good, wonderful and fantastic and Bangladesh is much further ahead in the process of democracy than any other country.
Responding to a question, he said that the caretaker government system is basically a non-democratic system and it was first established in Pakistan in 1985, followed a few times later in Bangladesh.
Recalling his experiences in Bangladesh in 2014, the former Portuguese MP said that he had then seen burnt bodies of many people, including drivers, children, in hospitals who were victims of arson attacks in the name of the movement during that time.
He said, “We have to break this logic of violence…Democracy is certainly an option, but it cannot be toxic polarization.”
Hisham Kuhail, CEO of the Central Election Commission of Palestine, said, “What we saw today is a good voting process on voting day…No one forces anyone to vote.”
He also observed that the election process was peaceful, there was efficient use of available resources, the presiding officers were competent while the participants were very happy with the voting process.