Diplomatic Correspondent

Foreign diplomats visited different polling centres during yesterday’s Dhaka city polls without their local staffers, following a government directive not to include Bangladeshi employees of their missions in election observer teams.

The Daily Star could confirm that envoys of the US, the UK, the European Union, Canada, and Japan went to polling centres in various parts of the city.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller visited Rampura Ekramunnesa High School, Shaheed Monu Miah Government High School in Tejgaon, and Banani Bidyaniketan School and College centres.

He spent around 15 minutes at Rampura Ekramunnesa High School and observed the voting process. The envoy then went to Shaheed Monu Miah Government High School and stood on the school playground for a while.

“This is a beautiful day,” the ambassador said, looking around and up in the sky, reports UNB.

He also inquired about the school and when it was established. When he saw 72-year-old Mohammed Shahjalal was proceeding towards the polling centre with the support of his relatives, the diplomat suggested a television journalist that the moment be captured.

“The ambassador did not talk to any media as per the Election Commission’s regulations,” said a diplomatic source.

British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson visited several polling centres, including Banani Bidyaniketan School and College and Azimpur Girls School and College. He also refrained from talking to any media.

Besides the US and the UK diplomats, those from the foreign missions of Canada, Japan, and the European Union visited various stations.

An official of an embassy in

SEE PAGE 10 col 2