US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has held a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal at the Election Commission office in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
In the meeting, the US Ambassador Peter Haas announced that a monitoring team will be sent by the US in early October to assess the pre-polls situation ahead of Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections.
“I informed him [chief election commissioner] that in early October, the US will send a pre-election monitoring team, stated Haas, addressing reporters, after meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal at the Election Commission office.
US Monitoring Team
According to US Ambassador Peter Haas, the monitoring team will consist of experts from the National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute, and individuals with extensive experience in election monitoring and preparations.
However, he mentioned that he could not currently provide the detailed schedule of the team.
The meeting began at approximately 11:15 am and was attended by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) along with four other commissioners. Additionally, EC Secretary Jahangir Alam joined them for the scheduled gathering.
Previous Discussions
On June 8th of the previous year, during a meeting with the CEC, Peter Haas expressed their desire for a general election that would allow Bangladeshi citizens to freely elect their leadership. Emphasizing the significance of active involvement from diverse stakeholders to ensure a democratic and transparent electoral process, he reiterated that a fair election is not solely the responsibility of the Election Commission. Instead, it requires a collective effort involving all Bangladeshis.
Describing the meeting as a courtesy call, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal assured the media that the Election Commission is committed to conducting a fair and inclusive election. He announced plans to enhance surveillance by installing CCTV cameras at polling stations. CEC Awal further expressed his confidence that the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh will witness a significant improvement in transparency compared to previous ones.
On July 31, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) revealed that the 12th national elections in the country might take place either by the end of December this year or at the beginning of January next year. This announcement has brought significant anticipation and attention to the upcoming electoral process.
Election timeline
As per the constitution, the Twelfth National Parliament Election must be held within 90 days before January 29, 2024. The countdown for the election will commence on November 1 of the current year. However, the exact date for the election announcement remains flexible, allowing for it to be made 50, 60, or 70 days before the elections, or even at the end of October.
