Bangladesh has received confirmations from at least 16 countries to send a total of 57 election observers for the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July Charter, both scheduled concurrently on 12 February.
These observers will join hundreds of international monitors from the European Union, the Commonwealth, and multiple global organisations promoting democracy and human rights.
Malaysia will send the largest bilateral delegation of 14 observers, led by Dato Sri Ramlan Bin Dato Harun, Chairman of the Malaysian Election Commission. Türkiye will dispatch 12 observers, including members of parliament, headed by former Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh Mehmet Vakur Erkul.
Other countries confirming observers include Indonesia (5), Japan (4), Pakistan (3), Bhutan (2), Maldives (2), Sri Lanka (1), the Philippines (2), Jordan (2), Iran (1), Georgia (2), Russia (2), Kyrgyzstan (2), Uzbekistan (1), and South Africa (2). Notable observers include Mohammad Jalal Sikandar Sultan, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, and Deki Pema, Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan.
“We have received confirmation of nearly 400 election observers so far, and we expect a few more countries to confirm delegates soon,” said Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator overseeing observer coordination.
The 14-member Commonwealth Observer Group will be led by former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Members include Jeffrey Salim Waheed, former Deputy Foreign Minister of the Maldives; David John Francis, former Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone; and Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi, former Malaysian senator.
The European Union Election Observation Mission will be headed by Ivars Ijabs, Chief Observer and Member of the European Parliament from Latvia, accompanied by seven other MEPs: Lukas Mandl (Austria), Loránt Vincze (Romania), Tomáš Zdechovský (Czechia), Leire Pajín (Spain), Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza (Romania), Michael McNamara (Ireland), and Catarina Vieira (Netherlands).
Nearly 2,000 candidates, including representatives from over 50 political parties and independent contenders, are contesting 300 parliamentary seats. The election will be held alongside the national referendum on the July reform charter.
