EU to send 200-member delegation to observe Bangladesh’s national polls

The European Union (EU) will send a 200-member election observation delegation team to monitor Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, EU officials said on Thursday (January 8).

The announcement came after a meeting between Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and EU Election Observation Mission chief Dr. Ivars Ijabs, who is also a member of the European Parliament, at the Election Commission Secretariat in the capital's Agargaon.

Speaking to reporters, Dr. Ijabs said EU long-term observers have been working in Bangladesh since late December, while short-term observers are scheduled to arrive on February 12. During the election period, a total of around 200 EU observers, including members of the European Parliament, will be deployed across the country.

He noted that the Election Commission had described the simultaneous conduct of the parliamentary election and a referendum as a logistical challenge, but expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to manage the process effectively.

Dr. Ijabs said the EU’s role would be strictly neutral and focused on observing the electoral process. “We are here to support transparency. Bangladesh is an important partner of the European Union,” he said.

Describing the upcoming polls as historic, he said the election—set to be held under an interim government following the 2024 mass uprising—would play a decisive role in shaping the country’s future.