ISLAMABAD: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 56 long-term observers (LTOs) across all 64 districts of Bangladesh to monitor the parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 12, state media reported Saturday.
The state-run news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), reported that the observers were deployed following a brief ceremony held at a city hotel, where Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase underscored their role in assessing the electoral process.
“The long-term observers are a critical element of our mission. Their observations and insights will ground our impartial and fact-based evaluation of the electoral process,” Lase said at the ceremony, according to the report.
The EU EOM is following a robust and well-established methodology of long-term, nationwide observation to ensure a balanced and thorough assessment of the electoral process, the state news agency said.
Long-term observers
According to BSS, the long-term observers will closely monitor key aspects of the election at the regional level and support the analysis of the core expert team based in Dhaka.
“Our observers will work in teams of two and in their areas of observation, they will meet voters, election officials, candidates, and political parties, as well as citizen observers and youth activists, not only in the cities, but also in small towns and villages,” Lase said.
The observers have been drawn from European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland. Before deployment, they received extensive briefings on the electoral process, political environment, legal framework, and the media and social landscapes in Bangladesh, BSS reported.
The mission was deployed following an invitation from the authorities of Bangladesh and is led by Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, a member of the European Parliament. He officially launched the mission at a press conference on Jan. 11 in Dhaka.
Short-term observers
As election day approaches, the mission will be reinforced by 90 short-term observers, along with observers from diplomatic missions of European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, to observe voting, counting, and tabulation processes. A delegation of members of the European Parliament will also join the mission.
At full strength, the European Union Election Observation Mission will comprise about 200 observers from all 27 European Union member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, BSS reported.
According to BSS, the mission is expected to present its preliminary findings at a press conference in Dhaka on Feb. 14. A final report with recommendations for future electoral processes will be submitted to the authorities after completion of the entire electoral process and will be made public.
European Union officials said the mission operates under a strict code of conduct requiring neutrality and non-interference and conducts its activities in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation endorsed under United Nations auspices in 2005.
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