EU election observation mission sees no security risks for Bangladesh polls

The European Union (EU) election observation mission monitoring Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary elections and referendums has reported no security risks and said no additional security alerts are necessary.

Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka on Saturday, Inta Lase, deputy chief observer of the EU mission, said, “We do not see a need to issue a security alert for our observers. We have our own security arrangements in place.”

Lase added that 56 long-term observers have already been deployed across the country, with numbers expected to increase closer to the election day. The mission’s primary focus is to monitor whether Bangladesh adheres to domestic and international legal obligations related to elections.

The EU formally launched its observation mission last week, emphasising the importance of an inclusive and participatory electoral process. Ivars Ijabs, chief observer, highlighted that inclusivity includes ensuring participation of women, ethnic and religious minorities, and regional communities. He noted that the mission will pay close attention to voter turnout to assess the exercise of citizens’ democratic rights.

This is the first full-scale EU election observation mission in Bangladesh since 2008. Around 200 observers from the EU’s 27 member states, as well as Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, are participating. The mission comprises an 11-member core team based in Dhaka, 56 long-term observers, and 90 short-term observers deployed ahead of the election. Diplomats from EU member and partner countries are also participating as observers.

Long-term observers will monitor various aspects of the election at the regional level, meeting voters, candidates, election officials, political party representatives, citizen observers, and youth workers in both urban and rural areas. Short-term observers will oversee voting, counting, and result tabulation on election day.

The EU mission will release a preliminary report in Dhaka on February 14, followed by a final report with recommendations on its website.

Lase emphasised that the mission operates under a strict code of conduct, maintaining complete neutrality and refraining from any interference, in line with UN-approved international election observation standards.