Around 50 foreign journalists representing 24 international media outlets have expressed interest in covering Bangladesh’s upcoming referendum and the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for 12 February.
Election Commission (EC) sources said the registration deadline for foreign media expired on 17 January, by which time 45 journalists had formally applied for accreditation.
Earlier, the EC issued an open invitation to foreign observers and international media organisations to monitor the referendum and the parliamentary polls.
A source familiar with the registration process said the list of foreign journalists has already been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for security clearance.
Once cleared, the list will be forwarded to Bangladesh missions abroad to facilitate visa issuance.
An EC official said visa-on-arrival facilities may also be extended, upon request, to accredited foreign journalists assigned to cover the elections.
Media organisations seeking accreditation include TVE (Spain), SAMAA TV, Diplomat Magazine (Netherlands), Asahi Shimbun, NHK (Tokyo and Delhi), ABC Australia, GEO News, The Globe and Mail (Canada), Radio Radicale, DSTV Darjeeling, Mainichi Shimbun (Tokyo), Lettera 22, Reuters, Dagens Nyheter (Sweden), Al Jazeera, The Christian Science Monitor, several German media outlets, AB TV (Australia), Pakistan Television, Digital Radio 357 (Poland), CAN TV, and Ei Muhurte (Kolkata).
The Election Commission said foreign journalists would be permitted to cover the electoral process in line with national laws and regulations, including visits to polling centres, briefings, and interactions with election officials.
Bangladesh is preparing to host a large number of international observers and media representatives as part of efforts to ensure transparency and credibility in the referendum and parliamentary elections.
