A large international presence is gathering in Bangladesh ahead of Thursday’s 13th national election and the referendum on the July National Charter, with hundreds of foreign observers and journalists already in the country.
According to the Chief Adviser’s press wing, 394 international election observers and 197 foreign journalists have arrived to monitor the vote. Officials said the figure marks a significant rise compared to previous elections.
Of the total observers, 80 represent international organisations, 239 have come from different countries on a bilateral basis including independent European representatives and 51 are individuals linked to global institutions.
The number is more than double the international observers present during the January 7, 2024 general election. In earlier polls, the 12th general election had 158 international observers, the 11th had 125, and the 10th had only four.
Among the organisations sending missions are the Asian Network for Free Elections, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute. Observers are also participating from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the European External Action Service, among others.
In addition, representatives from 21 countries — including Japan, China, Türkiye, Pakistan, South Africa and the Philippines — are in Bangladesh to observe the voting process.
Officials said 51 observers from institutions such as Democracy International, the SAARC Human Rights Foundation and the Polish Institute of International Affairs are monitoring the election in their individual capacities.
Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator assisting with coordination of the visits, said the response from the international community has been encouraging. She said the large and experienced observer presence reflects global confidence in Bangladesh’s interim government to conduct a free and fair election.
Several high-profile figures are also part of the observer missions, including former Ghana president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Bhutan’s Chief Election Commissioner Deki Pema.
More than 2,000 candidates from over 50 political parties, along with independent contenders, are competing in the parliamentary race. Voting will take place alongside a nationwide referendum on the July National Charter.
