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ISLAMABAD: Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) Ivars Ijabs on Friday said the European Union wants Bangladesh&rsquo;s upcoming national election to be free, fair, and peaceful, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) News. He made the remarks at a briefing at the Sylhet Press Club, attended by Press Club President Muktabis Un Nur and EU-EOM Press Officer Eberhard Laue. Ijabs said the EU-EOM will observe the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-army-chief-calls-for-neutrality-ahead-of-2026-general-election" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Feb. 12 election</a> in line with the principles of independence, impartiality, and non-interference, but will not certify the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-election-commission-says-poll-preparations-complete" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">election </a>results.&nbsp;Around 200 observers&nbsp;He said around 200 observers are involved in the mission, including long-term observers deployed across all 64 districts, as well as analysts, diplomats and a delegation from the European Parliament. The chief observer said the mission will assess the participation of women, young people, and vulnerable groups in the electoral process, as well as the role of traditional and social media in helping voters make informed choices. The EU-EOM began its work in late Dec. 2025 and is the first full-scale European Union election observation mission in Bangladesh since 2008.

Bangladesh

Says around 200 observers are involved in the mission, including long-term observers deployed across all 64 districts, as well as analysts, diplomats and a delegation from the European Parliament.

EU seeks free, fair, peaceful Bangladesh election: Chief observer

ISLAMABAD: At least 16 countries have accepted Bangladesh&rsquo;s invitation to send a total of 57 election observers for the country&rsquo;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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-chief-adviser-urges-armed-forces-to-ensure-fair-february-elections" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chief Adviser&rsquo;s</a>&nbsp;Press Wing. Bilateral delegations&nbsp; Among the bilateral delegations, Malaysia will send the largest contingent with 14 observers, followed by T&uuml;rkiye 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. &nbsp;&ldquo;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,&rdquo; 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&nbsp;Election Observation MissionThe 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/76-women-candidates-to-contest-in-bangladeshs-february-polls" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">candidates</a>, representing more than 50&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/parties-must-address-environment-in-election-manifestos-bangladeshi-climate-adviser" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">political parties</a>&nbsp;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.

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 Bangladesh Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

Articles tagged with "Election Observers"

EU seeks free, fair, peaceful Bangladesh election: Chief observer

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