<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said informed quarters have questioned whether Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) published its report on the January 7 election in an effort to “give weapon” to anti-election and anti-democratic forces.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“It seems that there is a similarity in terms of language between what BNP says and what TIB is saying. It is our expectation that TIB will not work as a supportive force for the anti-election and anti-democratic forces,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister hoped that TIB will not turn into “a spokesperson for a group” and uphold its reputation without deviating from its neutral position.</div><div><br></div><div>The Awami League joint general secretary said he received several phone calls with questions about the TIB report.</div><div><br></div><div>Though TIB was supposed to do research on issues, in most cases they do not do any research, Hasan Mahmud claimed.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said the election was held in a festive atmosphere and international observers from the US, European Union, Commonwealth, OIC and others described it as “free and fair.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said it seems TIB came up with its report with refined remarks made by BNP leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan Mahmud said the Election Commission demonstrated a strong role with strict imposition of laws including cancellation of AL candidates and other measures.</div><div><br></div><div>“There was no appreciation of EC efforts in the TIB report,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The 12th parliamentary election was a one-sided one that was staged to appear competitive,” Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said in its report, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“It is an ominous sign regarding the future of democracy and democratic elections in Bangladesh,” said TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman at a press conference to share the findings of the anti-corruption watchdog’s study titled “The 12th Parliament Election Process Tracking.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>