Election envir highly positive now: EU
Staff Reporter :
The head of the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM), Ivars Ijabs, has described the overall environment surrounding upcoming 13th national parliamentary election as highly positive, expressing optimism about a credible and inclusive electoral process.
Speaking to journalists during a briefing in Dhaka on Tuesday, Ijabs said the current situation in the country is conducive to holding the election and that security arrangements are satisfactory. He noted that the EU’s short-term observers have begun field-level work from Tuesday.
“The overall electoral environment is positive,” Ijabs said. “There are some issues that require discussion and close observation, but on a broader scale the situation appears hopeful and encouraging.”
He added that many people the mission has engaged with believe the election could mark a new chapter in Bangladesh’s democratic journey, reflecting strong public expectations and optimism.
Emphasising the EU’s priorities, Ijabs said the bloc places special importance on inclusive elections, particularly ensuring the active participation of women and minority communities.
He described their participation as essential for a genuinely inclusive and credible democratic process, noting that these issues will remain under close observation.
On security, the EU mission chief said discussions have been held with various security agencies, including the armed forces and police. While acknowledging that some areas may carry higher risks, he said the authorities have largely kept the situation under control.
Ijabs also confirmed that long-term observers have already been deployed across districts and regions since mid-January, monitoring the pre-election environment, election administration preparations, campaign activities and voter education efforts.
They are maintaining regular contact with candidates, authorities and other stakeholders at the grassroots level.
Meanwhile, the EU EOM has deployed 90 short-term observers across all 64 districts to observe election-day proceedings, including the opening and closing of polling centres, voting, vote counting and result tabulation. Their work builds on the efforts of 56 long-term observers already in the country.
At full strength, the mission will comprise more than 200 observers drawn from all 27 EU member states, as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland, including members of the European Parliament and locally recruited observers from diplomatic missions.
“With a total of 200 observers deployed across the country, we are contributing to the transparency of these historic elections,” Ijabs said, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to democratic governance in Bangladesh.
He stressed that EU observers will remain strictly neutral and will not interfere in the political process.
The mission’s preliminary report is scheduled to be released on 14 February, while a final report with recommendations will be published about two months after the election.
Ijabs said the EU is keen to see a good, inclusive, credible and widely accepted election in Bangladesh, guided by shared principles of democracy, political accountability and the rule of law.