European Union Plans to Send 150 Observers for Bangladesh Election

The European Union (EU) intends to deploy 150 election observers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh. To facilitate this, the EU has proposed signing a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Election Commission (EC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Monday, 29 September, after a meeting with representatives of the EU’s pre-election expert team at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the EC Secretariat briefed journalists on the matter.

“The EU team has provided a draft of the MoU. We will review it and then proceed with the signing,” he said.

According to the EC Secretary:

• The EU may send around 150 members, though not all observers will arrive at the same time.
• Observers will enter Bangladesh in separate groups at different intervals following the announcement of the election schedule.
• The EU team has asked various questions regarding:
  • Access to polling stations
  • The use of voting booths
  • Presence during vote counting

Outside of these topics, no further discussions took place between the EC and the EU delegation.

When asked why the MoU is necessary, the EC Secretary explained: “It is part of their standard operating procedure (SOP). They have provided us with a draft accordingly.”

Regarding past practices, when asked whether such tripartite agreements with foreign observers had occurred previously, the EC Secretary admitted: “I have not worked in the Election Commission before, so I do not have prior experience on this matter.”

This step underscores the EU’s commitment to ensuring transparent and credible elections in Bangladesh while adhering to its established observer protocols.