EC calls for registration for election observers, deadline set to Aug 10

The Election Commission (EC) has issued a public notification inviting applications from interested and eligible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking registration as election observers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Applications must be submitted to the EC’s Senior Secretary by 5.00pm on August 10.

The call for applications was issued in a notice signed by Md Shariful Alam, director of Public Relations at the Election Commission, on Sunday (July 27).

The announcement follows the cancellation of registrations for 96 observer organizations that were previously registered ahead of the 12th parliamentary election. Their registrations were automatically annulled under Section 16 of the newly implemented Election Observation Policy 2025. The EC is now inviting applications in accordance with the new policy.

To qualify, organizations must be registered under Bangladeshi law and have experience in working for democracy, human rights, and good governance. Their constitutions must reflect a commitment to promoting free, fair, and impartial elections. Organizations linked to political parties or individuals interested in contesting elections will not be considered. An affidavit must accompany each application, confirming that no executive member or board official is affiliated with any political party.

Applications must include essential documents such as an attested registration certificate, approved constitution, current list of board members, details of the registration authority, annual activity reports for the past two years, and a no-objection letter if the organization’s name resembles that of a domestic or international entity.

The application form (EO-1), the Election Observation Policy 2025, and related guidelines are available at the Election Commission Secretariat (Room No. 105) and on the EC’s official website at [www.ecs.gov.bd](http://www.ecs.gov.bd).

The EC first introduced observer registration before the 9th parliamentary elections in 2008. Since then, the number of registered organizations and observers has varied, with 20,256 observers from 80 organizations participating in the last election under the now-cancelled 2023 policy.