At least 394 international election observers and 197 foreign journalists have arrived in Bangladesh to monitor the country’s 13th general election and the referendum on the July National Charter, both scheduled for Wednesday.
Of the observers, 80 represent international organisations, 239 come from bilateral countries—including independent European observers—and 51 are individuals affiliated with various global institutions, according to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.
The number of observers for these polls is more than double that of the controversial general election held on 7 January 2024. By comparison, the 12th, 11th, and 10th general elections were monitored by 158, 125, and just four international observers, respectively.
Key organisations sending observer missions include the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) with 28 observers, the Commonwealth Secretariat with 27, the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) with 19, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) with one. Other participants include the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), and the European External Action Service.
Observers are arriving from 21 countries, including Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Jordan, Türkiye, Iran, Georgia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, South Africa, and Nigeria. In addition, 51 individuals representing organisations such as Voice for Justice, Democracy International, SNAS Africa, the SAARC Human Rights Foundation, and the Polish Institute of International Affairs will monitor the election in their individual capacities.
Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, coordinating international observer visits, said the response from countries and organisations “reflects the confidence of the global community in Bangladesh’s interim government to hold a free, fair, and participatory election.”
She added that the observers’ credentials were particularly reassuring. “Many have extensive experience in election monitoring worldwide,” she said.
Notable high-level participants include former President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan Deki Pema; former Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mehmet Vakur Erkul; former UK House of Lords Deputy Chief Whip Lord Richard Newby; Election Commission of Malaysia official Ramlan Bir Harun; and Iranian parliamentarian Behnam Saeedi.
More than 2,000 candidates representing over 50 political parties, as well as independents, are contesting parliamentary seats. The general election will be held concurrently with a referendum on the July National Charter.
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