EC invites for poll monitoring groups
Staff Reporter :
Under the framework of the Election Observation Policy 2025, the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has invited applications from interested and eligible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking registration as election observation entities.
The call for applications was issued in a notice signed by Md Shariful Alam, director of public relations at the Election Commission, on Sunday.
According to the notice, NGOs wishing to observe electoral activities will be granted registration for a period of five years.
During this tenure, registered organizations will be permitted to observe national parliamentary elections as well as local government polls.
Interested organizations must submit a duly completed application form (Form EO-1) to the Senior Secretary, Election Commission Secretariat, Agargaon, Dhaka, no later than 5pm on August 10, during official office hours.
The application form can be collected from the Public Relations Section (Room 105) of the Election Commission Secretariat or downloaded from the EC’s official website: www.ecs.gov.bd.
Eligibility criteria The applicant organization must be registered under the relevant laws of Bangladesh.
# Only organizations working to promote democracy, good governance and human rights are eligible to apply.
# The organization’s constitution must include a commitment to raising public awareness and disseminating information on free, fair, and impartial elections.
# Organizations will be deemed ineligible if any of their chief executives, board members, or management committee members are directly affiliated with a political party.
# The chief executive and members of the governing board must also submit affidavits affirming that they have no political affiliations.
Organizations whose names are identical to, or confusingly similar to, those of national or international entities will be considered ineligible. In cases where an organization’s name resembles that of an international or regional body, a written no-objection certificate must be submitted by the concerned entity.
Required documents to attach with application
# The organization’s constitution approved by the registering authority
# A list of the approved trustee board or executive committee members
# A certified copy of the registration certificate (attested by a first-class gazetted officer)
# Proof of the organization’s registered address and, if necessary, its updated documentation
# Name and address of the registering authority, along with the list of approved operational activities
# Annual work plans and activity reports for the past two years
# No-objection certificates from domestic or foreign partner organizations, where applicable
The notice further states that incomplete, erroneous or late applications will be considered invalid.
For additional information, applicants are advised to contact the Public Relations Section of the Election Commission Secretariat (Room 105).
On the other hand, The Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED), an organization works in election commission bit, has strongly rejected the Election Commission’s (EC) newly issued “Media Guidelines 2025,” citing concerns over press freedom and the public’s right to electoral information.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, RFED President Kazi Jebell and General Secretary Golam Rabbani called on the EC to revise the policy through open and inclusive discussions involving relevant media stakeholders.
RFED expressed concern that the guidelines would severely limit journalists’ access to polling centres and hinder their ability to gather and report election-related information.
The organisation noted that key aspects of the guidelines, including restricted movement, limitations on observation, and conditions for data collection, would create unnecessary obstacles to transparent reporting during elections.
One of the primary criticisms from RFED was the EC’s failure to consult media professionals before finalising the policy – something the group sees as contrary to democratic principles.
The statement emphasised that the guidelines lack clear provisions ensuring a safe and unrestricted environment for journalists to operate.
RFED concluded by urging the EC to develop a modern, media-friendly, and practical set of guidelines through meaningful engagement with the press and other stakeholders.