EU to send 4 observers to monitor national polls

The European Union (EU) will send a four-member observer team to monitor the 12th parliamentary polls, Election Commissioner top officials said.

The EU communicated its decision to the foreign ministry and sent a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner today, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Ahsan Habib Khan confirmed.

EC officials said that the EU observers would reach Bangladesh on November 21 and stay in the country for about two months.

Earlier on September 20, The European Union informed the EC that they would not send a fully-fledged election observation mission for the upcoming national polls.

"Based on the recommendations of the exploratory mission -- and taking into consideration the budget for EU Election Observation Missions for 2023/2024 -- High Representative Josep Borrell has decided not to deploy a fully-fledged EU Election Observation Mission," reads the EU letter.

"The High Representative's decision reflects the fact that, at the present time, it is not sufficiently clear whether the necessary conditions will be met at the point in time when the elections take place," reads the letter written by the EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley.

The exploratory mission visited Bangladesh on July 6-22 to assess the advisability, usefulness, and feasibility of a fully-fledged election observation mission.

Whiteley, in the letter, also said the EU was exploring "other options to accompany the electoral process should these be welcome on the part of the Election Commission and Government of Bangladesh. I will be in touch with you as soon as possible in this regard".