Dhaka: A seven-member European Union (EU) Exploratory Mission will meet the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to discuss the possible deployment of an observation mission to Bangladesh for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections. EC Secretariat Joint Secretary Md Moin Uddin Khan disclosed that the EU team will engage with EC officials under the leadership of Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, senior election expert Riccardo Chellery will head the EU delegation. Moin Uddin stated that the EU team is scheduled to meet EC officials from 3 pm to 4 pm, followed by a separate meeting with Election Commissioner Sanaullah from 4 pm to 5 pm. The discussions will focus on the upcoming 13th National Parliament election with various government and private stakeholders.
The EC official mentioned that the EU team is primarily focused on understanding the preparations for the elections, the political environment, and the measures taken to ensure free and fair elections. Based on the recommendations of the fact-finding team, the EU will consider dispatching an observation mission to Bangladesh during the election period, adhering to its procedures.
Earlier, EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed had announced that a delegation from the European Union would visit the EC office to meet with an Election Commissioner. He also noted that the EU team would meet with officials of the EC Secretariat on the same day.
The meeting aims to enhance the transparency and participatory nature of the country’s electoral process, as believed by EC officials. The engagement with international observers like the EU is seen as a step toward ensuring a credible election process in Bangladesh.