Dhaka, Jan 31 (V7N) — Bangladesh is set to welcome over 330 international observers to monitor the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections and the national referendum, more than double the number present during the controversial January 7, 2024, general elections.

According to a Facebook post from the Press Wing of the Chief Advisor, six international organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), will send at least 63 observers. They will join teams from the European Union, representatives from 16 countries, and 32 individuals associated with various international organizations.

Shakir Mahmud Bandar, head of the OIC Election Observation Unit, will lead the two-member OIC observation team. Other major observation delegations include:

  • 28 observers from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)

  • 25 from the Commonwealth Secretariat

  • 7 from the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI)

  • 1 from the National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Additionally, 32 independent observers from organizations such as Voice for Justice, Democracy International, SNAS Africa, SAARC Human Rights Foundation, and the Polish Institute of International Affairs will participate in a personal capacity.

Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamia Murshed, overseeing coordination of the observation mission, said, “We expect the number of international observers to increase further, as some countries have not yet confirmed the names of their representatives.”

Countries yet to confirm their observers include India, Nepal, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, and Romania. The Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBOSA) is also expected to announce its observers soon.

More than 50 political parties and approximately 2,000 candidates, including independents, are contesting 300 parliamentary seats in this year’s election, which will be held simultaneously with a referendum on the national charter in July.

END/SMA/AJ