The Government of Japan will dispatch an Election Observer Mission to Bangladesh from 9 February to 14 February to support the fair conduct of the country’s general election scheduled for 12 February.

Former Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Watanabe Masato will lead the mission, which includes officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, and an external expert.

The mission will observe the casting and counting of votes and will exchange views and information with the Bangladesh Election Commission and election observer missions from other countries.

Japan is sending the mission as part of its cooperation to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh, responding to the Election Commission’s decision to welcome international election observers.