International teams arrive to monitor historic polls tomorrow
Preparations are complete for a historic political shift as the neighboring nation gears up for the 13th Bangladesh National Elections. Scheduled for February 12, this vote comes nearly two years after the significant July Uprising of 2024. Ahead of the polls, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has been engaging in critical discussions with international monitoring groups to ensure transparency.
Global attention is firmly fixed on Dhaka, with multiple election observation teams arriving to oversee the process. Chief Adviser Yunus recently held meetings with key delegations, including the International Republican Institute (IRI), the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), and the Voice for Justice Observers. These high-level discussions took place at the State Guest House Jamuna.
Leading the IRI delegation was former US Congressman David Dreier, who met with the Chief Adviser on Tuesday. This was followed on Wednesday by a meeting with a seven-member team from ANFREL, led by Chairperson Rohana Hettiarachchi. Later that day, Hasanat M. Husain, representing the Voice for Justice World Forum, also brought a four-member team to discuss the electoral environment. Senior officials, including Lamiya Morshed, the Principal Coordinator for SDGs, joined these sessions.
This election marks a major turning point for the country. The political landscape has changed drastically following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. With the Awami League banned from participating, the contest is primarily between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-led alliance involving the National Citizen Party (NCP).
According to the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser, the world is watching closely. A total of 394 international election observers and 197 foreign journalists have landed in Bangladesh to cover the event. Among the observers, 240 represent bilateral countries and independent European monitors, while others hail from various global institutions. Alongside the general election, a Constitutional Referendum known as the July National Charter is also set to take place on the same day.
With Agency Inputs and Imgae Source: Business in Bangladesh
