TDS Desk:

Six international organisations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), have agreed to deploy at least 63 observers for Bangladesh’s 13th national election and the referendum, both scheduled for February.

They will join observer missions from the European Union, 16 countries, and 32 individuals affiliated with various global bodies, bringing the total number of confirmed international observers for the dual polls to 330 so far.

The number of international observers confirmed for the upcoming election is more than double that of the controversial parliamentary election held on 7 January 2024.

The numbers of international observers for the 12th, 11th, and 10th national elections stood at 158, 125, and four, respectively.

Shakir Mahmood Bandar, head of the OIC Election Observation Unit, will lead the two-member OIC observer mission.

In addition, 28 observers will arrive from the Asian Network for Free Elections, 25 from the Commonwealth Secretariat, seven from the US-based International Republican Institute, and one from the National Democratic Institute, also based in the United States.

Thirty-two observers representing organisations such as Voice for Justice, Democracy International, SNAS Africa, the SAARC Human Rights Foundation, and the Polish Institute of International Affairs will monitor the election in their individual capacities, according to information received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Election Commission.

“We expect the number of international observers to increase, as several countries invited to send observer missions have yet to confirm the names of their delegates,” said Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Murshed, who is overseeing coordination of the international observer visits.

Countries yet to confirm their delegates include India, Nepal, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, and Romania.

The Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia is also expected to name its delegates soon.

Nearly 2,000 candidates, representing more than 50 political parties as well as independent contenders, are contesting the 300 parliamentary seats. The general election will be held simultaneously with a referendum on the July National Charter.