Dhaka Bureau: The Election Commission (EC) has invited 38 countries and organizations to observe the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections in Bangladesh. Through the Ministry of External Affairs, 38 countries and organizations have been invited to observe the election. The Election Commission has informed us of this information.
These countries and organizations are: India, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia, Canada, France, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Senegal, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Tunisia, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, and Singapore.
Among them, the EC has invited five countries belonging to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBUSA) at its own expense. Besides, 16 countries belonging to the Association of World Election Bodies (A-Wave) and 10 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have been invited. China, Japan, and Singapore were invited to observe as individual countries.
EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told the media that the countries that invite them to observe the elections are inviting the organizations.
He also said that observers from 12 countries and various organizations have applied to monitor the parliamentary elections. Until December 7, foreigners can apply for election observation through the respective embassy. The commission will review the application and approve it.
