16 countries to send 57 observers for Feb 12 election: Bangladeshi state media

ISLAMABAD: At least 16 countries have accepted Bangladesh’s invitation to send a total of 57 election observers for the country’s 13th general election and the referendum on the July Charter, both scheduled to be held concurrently on February 12, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) News reported on Friday.

The observers will join several hundred international observers from the European Union, the Commonwealth, and various global organizations working on democratic governance and human rights, according to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

Bilateral delegations 

Among the bilateral delegations, Malaysia will send the largest contingent with 14 observers, followed by Türkiye with 12 observers.

The Malaysian team will be led by Dato Sri Ramlan Bin Dato Harun, chairman of the Election Commission of Malaysia.

The Turkish delegation, made up of several members of parliament, will be led by Mehmet Vakur Erkul, a former Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh.

Other countries confirming the deployment of observers include Indonesia (5), Japan (4), Pakistan (3), Bhutan (2), Maldives (2), Sri Lanka (1), the Philippines (2), Jordan (2), Iran (1), Georgia (2), Russia (2), Kyrgyzstan (2), Uzbekistan (1), and South Africa (2), the BSS report said.

 “We have received confirmation of close to 400 election observers so far, and we expect a few more countries to confirm the visits of their delegates very soon,” said Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and SDG coordinator, who is supporting the coordination of election observers.

Former President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo will lead the 14-member Commonwealth Observer Group.

Other members include Jeffrey Salim Waheed, former deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives; David John Francis, former foreign minister of Sierra Leone; and Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi, former senator of Malaysia.

EU Election Observation Mission

The European Union Election Observation Mission will be led by Ivars Ijabs, chief observer and member of the European Parliament from Latvia.

The mission will also include at least seven other Members of the European Parliament.

Nearly 2,000 candidates, representing more than 50 political parties as well as independent contenders, are contesting the election for 300 parliamentary seats, which will be held alongside the referendum on the July reform charter.