Foreign observers welcomed to general elections: CEC

Chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said the election commission (EC) will liberally welcome foreign observers to the national elections.

"Foreign observers will be generously welcomed...but there is an issue to this end. The foreign observers, who are interested to come to Bangladesh must get the visa," he told reporters at the EC secretariat in Dhaka on Wednesday.

"We do believe our government wants fair elections. The foreign and the home ministries will cooperate with them to this end," he said.

Replying to a question about BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's chance to participate in the upcoming elections, Awal said whether the BNP chief would be able to join the elections will be examined legally when the time comes.

"It will be seen when elections come. Everything will be decided in line with the laws. Now I can't say anything in advance," he said.