“In the lead-up to the elections, we urge all parties to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in a peaceful and democratic manner,” Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Heather Cruden said while speaking at a joint press briefing.



The press briefing was organised to launch the joint celebration of the annual week-long ‘Francophonie Festival’ of French language and culture marking the founding day of the International Organisation of Francophonie.



Heads of missions of France, Switzerland, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam and Qatar were present at the briefing.



Canada had earlier condemned the attacks on civilians and minorities in Bangladesh and urged the authorities to protect ‘rights and lives’ of the common people.



Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird in a statement had earlier said his country was deeply concerned over what has happened in recent weeks.



The country, a major development partner of Bangladesh, urged all to adopt a peaceful way of resolving issues.



The statement stresses on the need for exercising rights in a ‘peaceful and democratic manner.’



Nearly 70 people died in recent violence amid calls for execution for war crimes.



Jamaat-e-Islami has launched the violence and atrocities after its senior leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee was awarded death sentence on Feb 28 for his role during the War of Liberation in 1971.



The party had sided with Pakistan during the war and formed citizens’ brigades to aid its military against the freedom fighters. It has been opposing the war crimes trial after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government initiated it in 2010.



As different countries have expressed their concerns over the violence, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dipu Moni briefed foreign diplomats in Dhaka on Thursday.



She sought support of the international community for the trial to purge Bangladesh of impunity and urged them to take ‘a holistic perspective’ about the on-going trials and its significance for the nation-building efforts.