Delegations from several international election observer groups—the Commonwealth, Turkiye and the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI)—paid separate courtesy calls on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in the capital.

These high-level meetings, held between Monday and Tuesday, focused on the upcoming13th National Parliament Election and the Referendum, which is scheduled to be held on Thursday (February 12).

On Monday, a 23-member delegation from the Commonwealth Observer Group, led by its Chair and former President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, met with the Chief Adviser.

Earlier on Tuesday, Professor Yunus also received a seven-member Turkish observer team, primarily composed of members of the Turkish Parliament and led by Mehmet Akif Yilmaz, Chairperson of the Turkish–Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Additionally, a five-member delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI), headed by former US Congressman David Dreier, held discussions with the Chief Adviser regarding the election environment.

Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator for SDG at the Chief Adviser’s Office, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended all three meetings.

The visits underscore the significant international interest and presence in monitoring the transparency and conduct of Bangladesh’s historic polls.