The United Nations is closely following the situation in Bangladesh ahead of the national election, said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

‘We are following the situation closely and it is very important as a matter of principle that anywhere there are elections, that they be conducted freely and fairly and that the space be given for people to express themselves,’ said the spokesman at a press briefing on Thursday, reports the UNB.

‘ We’re watching…We’re obviously watching the developments very closely,’ he said responding to a question over the upcoming elections in Bangladesh .

Earlier at a regular briefing at the UN, the Spokesman made it clear that the United Nations does not send observers saying, ‘The UN has no observers.  We don’t send observers.’

‘We believe, as a matter of principles, that elections should be held in a positive climate, free from any sort of intimidation,’ said Stephane Dujarric.

Following a request for UN electoral assistance from the Bangladesh Election Commission, Dujarric said the UN office in Bangladesh is providing technical electoral assistance through the UNDP/UN Women’s support to the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election Project.