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Meet on Poll Practices Tuesday Group to continue efforts for govt nod

Staff Correspondent
Tticsday Group, a club of foreign diplomats in Dhaka, will continue efforts to convince the government to let it hold the planned conference on electoral practices, said diplo-maticsources.
Some members of the group yesterday met at the residence of the Norwegian ambassador to Bangladesh and discussed the next
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course of action following the government's refusal to allow the planned conference, added the sources.
Adviser of the Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman on Sunday communicated the government's stance during a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner In Dhaka David Sproule and Ambassador of Norway Aud LlseNotheim.
The group memliers at yesterday’s meeting decided to continue a dialogue with the government high-ups to make them aware of the 'benefits’ that the proposed conference may offer in holding the next Eeral election in a more free and
manner.
The Group sources said it only wants to provide technical assistance to Bangladesh to make its future general election more transparent They said the group lias no plans to discuss reforms in the electoral laws or changes in the constitution.
The meeting, which lasted about one and a half hours, starting from 3:30pm, however, decided not to take any such step that might strata-the relationship between The gov’ ernment and member countries of theTUesdayGrou]!
"We will talk to policymakers of the government and try to make them understand that the initiative to hold the conference has been taken out of o good intention and that we will not take sides in domestic politics. We only want to provide Bangladesh with technical assistance in electoral matters and we don't intend to interfere In the internal affairs," said a diplomat on condition ofanonymity.
The diplomat said that the group considers Bangladesh a democratic country and will continue helping it to strengthen its democratic process.
'Die Tbcsday Group comprises the ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Bangladesh from Australia, Canada, Denmark. France, Germany,,Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway. South Korea. Sweden, Switzerland, tho UK. US. European Commission, and the resident co-ordinator of the United Nations.
It has been planning to hold a seminar in Dhaka sometime in November this year on "International Electoral Best Practices".