To enhance the transparency of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliament Election and the Referendum, which is scheduled to be held on Thursday (February 12), the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) deployed 90 short-term observers across all 64 administrative districts on Tuesday.

These observers will monitor the entire election day cycle, from the opening of polling centers and the casting of votes to the final counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

Addressing reporters during the deployment, Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs emphasized the scope of the mission.

“The short-term observers will be present in cities, towns and villages in almost every constituency. Their observations and reports throughout the day will be a critical element of our impartial and fact-based assessment of these historic elections,” he stated.

He further noted that with a total of 200 observers active nationwide, the mission is significantly contributing to the transparency of the process.

"This large and dedicated mission attests to the European Union’s unwavering commitment to the democratic governance of Bangladesh,” the Chief Observer added.

The newly deployed teams will build on the foundation laid by 56 long-term observers who have been in the country since mid-January.

These long-term experts have been analyzing the pre-election environment, including administrative preparations, campaign dynamics, and voter education.

The mission’s strength is further bolstered by a delegation from the European Parliament and 35 locally recruited observers from the diplomatic missions of EU member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland.

Operating under a strict code of neutrality and non-interference, the EU EOM follows the 2005 UN-endorsed Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.

The mission is scheduled to present its preliminary findings at a press conference in Dhaka on February 14.

A final, comprehensive report featuring recommendations for future electoral processes will be submitted to the authorities and made available to the public once the entire electoral cycle is complete.

With Inputs from UNB