EC decision to bear costs of foreign observers imprudent, discriminatory: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh, TIB, has described the Election Commission’s decision to bear the accommodation and meal expenses of foreign election observers as imprudent, discriminatory and contrary to neutral observation.

In a statement issued in response to media reports on Tuesday, November 6, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said such a decision, taken under the pretext of enhancing the national and international acceptability of elections, could prove counterproductive. He said that if the EC bears the costs of foreign observers while making no similar provision for domestic observers, it would create discrimination.

He said implementation of the decision could expose observers to the risk of being seen as beneficiaries or hired observers, raising serious questions about how independently they could assess an election while enjoying the hospitality of the Election Commission. He noted that observers are also required to evaluate the role of the EC itself.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman questioned how foreign observers could ethically agree to perform their duties using funds provided by the EC or the government, given concerns over ethics and conflict of interest. He expressed hope that foreign observers would refrain from accepting EC hospitality in order to maintain neutrality.

He also said there had been no need to spend state funds to make elections appear credible in 2008 or earlier, and questioned why additional benefits had to be provided to observers in 2018 and 2024. He urged the EC to engage in self-reflection and called on it not to undermine public expectations for a free and acceptable election that emerged after the July mass uprising.