Bangladesh is set to host a large contingent of foreign observers for the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for 12 February, reflecting significant international interest in the electoral process.
The deadline for registration of foreign observers and international media under Election Commission’s (EC) open invitation expired on 17 January.
In addition to the open call, EC formally invited the chief election commissioners of 30 countries and representatives of seven international organisations to send observation teams. Several have already confirmed their participation.
EC has also signed an agreement with the European Union to deploy its full-fledged Election Observation Mission, the largest international mission expected for the polls.
According to official sources, the total number of foreign observers is likely to exceed 400, making it one of the largest international observation efforts in Bangladesh’s electoral history.
EU leads observer missions
The European Union will deploy the largest observation mission, with around 200 observers participating in the process. The EU mission has already deployed 56 long-term observers across all 64 districts to monitor the pre-election environment. These observers will remain in the field through polling day and the vote-counting process.
An additional 90 short-term observers will arrive about a week before the election, while a seven-member delegation of the European Parliament is expected in Dhaka shortly ahead of polling day. Observers from non-EU countries—Canada, Norway and Switzerland—will also join the EU mission.
On election day, the EU team will be deployed nationwide to observe voting, counting and tabulation procedures.
Commonwealth to send high-level delegation
The Commonwealth is preparing to dispatch a 17-member high-level observation team, led by a former president of a member country. According to sources involved in facilitating foreign observers, the delegation will include senior political figures, parliamentarians and prominent members of civil society from different Commonwealth states.
Participation confirmed by others
Several countries have already confirmed their intention to send observers. These include China, Turkey, Russia, Iran, the Philippines, Bhutan and Malaysia. Among them, China and Russia will each send two observers, Turkey seven, the Philippines two, while the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has confirmed two observers.
International organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) will also deploy observation teams. Meanwhile, US-based organisations—the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI)—are expected to send a combined delegation of more than 30 observers, although the final number has yet to be confirmed.
Election Commission officials said responses are still pending from many of the 30 election commissions formally invited. “We expect at least half of the invited countries to send their observers,” one official said.
Visa arrangements and logistics
Foreign observers who registered through the open invitation will be finalised by the Election Commission, which will forward the list to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visa processing. These observers will be eligible for visas on arrival, subject to scrutiny, and will bear their own expenses.
However, the EC will cover costs—except airfare—for dignitaries officially invited by the commission. These include up to 60 individuals, comprising 30 chief election commissioners or their representatives and one accompanying official each. There is no fixed cap on observers from international organisations.
On-arrival visas reinstated
Meanwhile, the government has revoked an earlier decision to suspend visas on arrival for foreigners. A Home Ministry circular issued on 12 January confirmed that visas on arrival will remain available, although stricter scrutiny will be enforced.
The presence of a large number of international observers is expected to place Bangladesh’s electoral process under close global scrutiny as the country prepares for a crucial vote amid heightened political attention at home and abroad.
