EU Pre-Election Observer Team to Arrive in Mid-September

Dhaka, August 5, 2025: A pre-election observer team from the European Union (EU) is set to arrive in Bangladesh in mid-September to assess preparations for the upcoming national election. This was announced by Akhter Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat, during a briefing at the Election Commission office on Monday.

The EC Secretary informed that the EU pre-election observer team will consist of seven members, including three foreign and four local observers. The Election Commission learned about the team’s visit through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though detailed information is yet to be provided.

While no specific date has been announced for the upcoming national election, the government has indicated that it may take place in the first half of February. The EC is working to finalize the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies by the end of this month. During the briefing, Akhter Ahmed outlined various preparations by the EC. He stated that a draft voter list for excluded voters will be published by August 10, with objections and claims to be resolved by August 31. The final voter list will be published based on a "cut-off time" determined by the EC, depending on the election schedule. Regarding electoral law reforms, the EC Secretary noted that the EC has received amendments to the parliamentary constituency delimitation law and the voter list ordinance. The EC has also prepared draft policies for setting up polling stations, guidelines for foreign observers, and media regulations. Amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and the code of conduct for political parties and candidates will be presented at the EC’s meeting on Thursday. Additionally, the EC aims to complete the procurement of election materials by September 30 and is progressively training its officials. Akhter Ahmed also mentioned that, as per regulations, registered political parties were required to submit their income-expenditure audit reports to the EC by July 31. Out of 51 registered parties, 30 have submitted their reports, 15 have requested an extension, and one party claimed exemption as it was registered this year. The remaining five parties have not submitted their reports, and the matter will be reported to the Commission for further action.

Responding to a comment by NCIP leader Nasir Uddin Patowari, who claimed on Sunday that the Election Commission "lacks a spine," Akhter Ahmed, with a touch of humor, said, “If I didn’t have a spine, how am I standing straight before you? That’s number one. Number two, that’s a political statement, and my domain is administrative. As for the first point, I’m still standing upright in front of you. Please pray that I can continue to do so.”