TIB seeks comprehensive policy for foreign poll observers

Staff Reporter  :
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for expert opinions of relevant parties, media professionals, and other stakeholders before amending the existing protocol for the engagement of foreign election observers in the upcoming parliamentary election.

“The existing policy for foreign observers must be amended because unimpeded presence and free movement of domestic and international election observers are indispensible for conducting a free, fair and participatory election,” TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said in a statement on Sunday.

He also highlighted that there were a handful of foreign observers and they played a controversial role in the parliamentary election in 2018 which vitiated the electoral process then.

“If the policy is amended based on the sole decision of the government institutions, it will deepen the existing crisis of the election commission and at the same time it will discourage the foreign observers to participate in the election,” he said.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman added, “The task of guaranteeing a just election doesn’t rest solely on the shoulders of the Election Commission.

Upholding a transparent and credible election is both the Commission’s constitutional mandate and responsibility. This aspect should not be overlooked.”

“Hence, ensuring a balanced inclusion of impartial experts, media figures, and input from various stakeholders is crucial in this context of the amendment.

Furthermore, it’s imperative to look into in past experiences, along with international best practices, when revising the policy,” he remarked.

TIB has called upon the present Election Commission and relevant government authorities to ensure that the policy amendment process does not mirror the previous statement by the EC Secretary in 2018, where he mentioned that ‘observers will remain statue-like at the polling centres.’