Unb, Dhaka
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) yesterday deployed nearly 100 short-term observers across the country.
They will be joining the long-term observers who have been in the field for the past five weeks, following all electoral preparations including candidate scrutiny, campaigning and the work of the Election Commission.
With the deployment of short-term observers, the number of EU election observers in the country now stands at 150.
The short-term observers were briefed on the Christmas Day and will now travel to the areas where they will observe the opening, voting, closing and counting processes in polling centres.
All EU observers are bound by an internationally accepted code of conduct. This means that they maintain strict neutrality in the course of their work and cannot interfere in any way in the electoral process.
Graham Elson, deputy chief observer of the EUEOM, said the observers’ assessment of the election day will form part of the statement of preliminary findings and conclusions that the mission will issue on December 31.
“It’s our hope that polling on Dec 29 will proceed smoothly and peacefully,’ he said.
The long-term EU observers, led by chief observer Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, were redeployed in Bangladesh in November following an invitation by the Election Commission.
The EUEOM is working independently to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the electoral process and to offer an impartial, balanced and informed analysis.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
