56,000 native, exotic observers to monitor nat’l polls, plebiscite

Staff Reporter :

The Election Commission (EC) announced that approximately 56,000 domestic and foreign observers will be stationed at polling centers to monitor the upcoming national parliamentary elections and referendum.

According to the EC, these observers will be present on Election Day to oversee the process on the ground.

Assistant Director of the EC’s Public Relations Branch, Mohammad Ashadul Haque on Monday, revealed that 55,454 domestic observers from 81 organisations and nearly 500 foreign observers will be involved in the election monitoring.

He further stated that voting will take place on February 12, from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and voters will cast their ballots on both the parliamentary elections and the referendum via paper ballots.

In addition to domestic organisations, international observers will also participate in monitoring the voting process this year.

Their responsibilities will include closely observing the voting environment, law and order, and voter participation.

EC officials have emphasised that the presence of observers will play a key role in ensuring the transparency and legitimacy of the elections.

Observers will gather data and report on both the internal and external conditions of polling stations, with their findings to be submitted to the Election Commission for further review.

Alongside domestic monitors, foreign representatives will travel to different regions on Election Day to witness the voting process firsthand.

The Commission believes this initiative will enhance international confidence in the election process.

Recently, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Bangladesh on 17 January deployed 56 long-term observers to all 64 districts across the country.

While deploying the observers, Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase said, “The long-term observers are a critical element of our mission.

Their observations and insights will ground our impartial and fact-based evaluation of the electoral process.”

The EU EOM will present its preliminary findings in a statement at a press conference on 14 February in Dhaka.

A final report offering recommendations for future electoral processes will be presented to the authorities after the completion of the entire electoral process.

Both documents will be public and available on the Mission’s website.