EU to observe national election in a nonpartisan way: Chief observer

Ivars Ijabs, chief observer of EU Election Observation Mission (EOM)

Ivars Ijabs, chief observer of EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the parliamentary elections to Bangladesh, has said that EU is here to observe in a nonpartisan way how this electoral process is being conducted because Bangladesh is really a very important partner for the European Union.

“But now we have just started with our mission. We have a team which will be working up until very end and will produce the final report with all the details of the process. In that sense I have to say that we are really very looking forward to this opportunity to observe your electoral process for Bangladesh as a vibrant democracy,” he said.

In responding a question, he said, “We have just arrived and we see that Bangladesh is a beautiful country with a very pluralistic and diverse society and one of the issues that we will be covering is not just Dhaka but also the rest of the country which is very important.”

Responding to another question, he said, “First of all there are the procedural aspect meaning the registration of voters the conduct of fair and free ballot the credibility of that. But just as I said we are just starting our work and this is my initial visit to Bangladesh to meet the most relevant stakeholders that are playing a part in uh this process and that's why one of my first visits is to the central electoral commission.”

In responding a question, he said, “They just explained the process. They just told us all the challenges. For example, this situation when the parliamentary elections are taking place together with a referendum which is also a challenge of course for the electoral commission but I hope they will deal with this in an appropriate way.”

“We are basically on the same page because Bangladesh Election Commission told us that these are really a very historic and important elections taking into account what happened in the August of 2024. Right now the situation with interim government and then the full parliament is going to be elected and will come together and will also of course determine the fate of your beautiful country,” said Ivars Ijabs, member of the European Parliament.

“I'm looking forward to be here and to observe together with the Bangladesh authorities this important democratic process,” he said.

“The initial team is smaller but at the very because we have those long-term observers. These are people who have been staying here like in from the late December as far as I understand but up until the very end we will have also those short term observers on the 12th of February there will be 200 observers from the EU including a group of my colleagues from the European Parliament and members of the European Parliament also having its own delegation here,” said Ijabs.