Election observers have started reaching the country with the arrival of a four-member European Union election monitoring mission in Dhaka on a two-month-long visit on November 29
Election observation is an important part of the national election of any country. Observers, individuals or organizations, from home and abroad keenly observe the whole electoral process on the invitation of the host country. Nowadays, election observation has become one of the main factors in the recognition of a free, fair, and impartial election.
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The country’s political parties are now passing busy days making preparations for the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad election after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 12th national election on November 15. Despite the ongoing blockade programs enforced by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the country’s people are in a festive mood centering the election, slated for only five weeks away on January 7 next.
UN Won’t Send Observers To Bangladesh
In a press briefing on November 29, the United Nations said that it has not sent election observers to any country since 2015.
“Without a specific mandate, we take such decisions very, very rarely. We will not send observers to the election in Bangladesh, because since 2015, the UN has not sent election observers to any country,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In reply to a query from a journalist, Stephane Dujarric said, “No, we are not taking any specific steps. The United Nations is not sending any observers to the election. We don’t do it unless there is a specific reason. We have seen the reports of Human Rights Watch and other organizations. We again appeal to all parties concerned to ensure that people can express their views freely without harassment.”
Does The UN Send Observers?
UN electoral assistance policy is a complex process. UN assistance in any election, including election observation, involves several complex steps. For example, before sending election observers to any country, the UN needs the mandate of the Security Council or the General Assembly. If a country formally requests electoral assistance from the United Nations, the UN Electoral Assistance Department under the Under-Secretary General of the UN decides to assist in the election. It is a rare event for the United Nations to send observers to the elections.
According to the United Nations Electoral Assistance Policy, sending UN election observers is extremely rare. The UN sent election observation missions for the last time in 2015 to Burundi. Prior to that, UN election observation mission was sent to Fiji in 2001.
EU Election Monitoring Mission Arrives
To fulfill the electoral process, election observers also have started reaching the country.
Election observation is an essential component of European Union activities to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law worldwide. Election observation can contribute to strengthening democratic institutions, build public confidence in electoral processes, and help deter fraud, intimidation, and violence.
With these objectives in mind, a four-member European Union election monitoring mission has arrived in Dhaka on a two-month-long visit.
The team landed at Dhaka airport on a special flight on Wednesday morning (November 29). The delegation would discuss with high government officials on the upcoming elections. They will start their official mission on Sunday.
The delegates are – David Noel Ward (Election Expert), Alexandre Mattus (Electoral Analyst), Swibes Charlotte (Electoral Analyst), and Rebecca Cox (Legal Expert).
Earlier, the EU communicated to Bangladesh that they were not sending a full-fledged election observation mission. On September 20, in a letter, the EU informed the Election Commission that it would not send a full-fledged mission to observe the national election in Bangladesh due to budgetary constraints.
“Taking into consideration the budget for EU Election Observation Missions for 2023/2024, High Representative Josep Borrell has decided not to deploy a full-fledged EU Election Observation Mission,” reads a letter EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley sent to the EC.
EC Guidelines For International Election Observers
Meanwhile, in September, the Election Commission published guidelines for international observers, mentioning that individuals or organizations serving as observers should have working experience in good governance, elections, democracy, peacebuilding, and human rights.
According to the guidelines, the applicant organization should produce evidence of registration with the relevant authority of its own country.
It also stated that the applicant (individual, or organization) shall comply with the election laws of Bangladesh.
According to the guidelines, the Election Commission will not entertain applications for observer accreditation from individuals with prior convictions related to electoral offenses, fraud, or dishonesty.
International election observers are required to submit their election observation reports within 30 days from the polling day to the secretary of the EC Secretariat.
The reports should be prepared based on pre-poll, poll-day, and post-poll observations, according to the Election Commission’s policy.
