Japan has committed approximately $4.8 million (equivalent to 695 million Japanese yen) in grant assistance to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) under its "BALLOT" project.
The initiative, implemented with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to enhance electoral integrity, voter education, and inclusive participation in the democratic process.
The agreement was formally signed on Wednesday at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller signed the agreement in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin.
Also attending the ceremony was Hideo Ishizuki, Director-General of the International Cooperation Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the EC Secretariat, the Japanese assistance will be used to improve the Commission’s institutional structure, technical operations, and overall capacity to conduct transparent and credible elections.
The BALLOT project specifically focuses on expanding voter and civic education, encouraging greater participation of women, youth, and underrepresented communities, and ensuring transparency and accountability across the entire electoral process.
CEC Nasir Uddin welcomed the Japanese support, stating that the agreement would strengthen the Commission’s operational framework and help uphold public trust and democratic values in electoral administration.
Ambassador Saida Shinichi emphasized Japan’s respect for Bangladesh’s sovereign democratic path.
He remarked, “Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its democratic journey. Japan fully supports the country’s efforts to achieve peaceful political transformation through free, fair, and inclusive elections.”
UNDP’s Stefan Liller added that the new support from Japan brings renewed energy to the shared goal of delivering peaceful and credible elections that reflect the genuine will of the people.
Previously, the Australian government had also pledged AUD 2 million to the BALLOT project, signaling continued international engagement in supporting democratic governance in Bangladesh.
