EC calls for election observer applications

The Election Commission has invited applications from both local and foreign observers to watch the upcoming national election slated for 30 December.

“Local polls observers will have to apply by 21 November,” assistant director (PR) Asadul Haque said on Saturday.

Foreign observers have been suggested to apply through the foreign ministry as the EC has a plan to complete their appointment process by the first week of December, he said.

A total of 8,874 observers from 35 local organisations and only four foreign observers monitored the 10th parliament elections held in 2014.

At present, a total of 118 election observer organisations are now registered with the Election Commission.

In the application, the organisations willing to observe the upcoming polls will have to mention the number of their observers and observation areas in the election.

EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed will brief the organisations on 20 November about appointment of election observers in the polls.

All the organisations have already been invited to join the briefing, said Asadul.

According to the EC, some 159,000 local observers and 593 foreign observers monitored the 2008 national election, while 218,000 local observers and 225 foreign observers watched the 2001 general election, 40,000 local observers and 265 foreign observers the 1996 (7th) national election and 30,000 local observers and 59 foreign observers monitored the 1991 national parliamentary elections.

The commission will start providing press cards among the journalists in the second week of December to cover the 11th national election, the official said.

The European Union has already said that it will not send any observer for the 11th general election, but chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda said the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) will send observers for the election.