NewsGate Press Network

The European Union (EU) has decided to send about 200 election observers to oversee the fairness for the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh.

This announcement was made by none other than Ivars Ijabs, the chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday the 8th of January 2026.

Various media reports and news websites from Bangladesh are reporting that this announcement was made soon after EU Election Observers had a meeting with the Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.

The EU Election Observers are focused on observing that the 12th February polls are conducted in a free, fair, and credible atmosphere.

Calling Bangladesh a “diverse and pluralistic society”, Ivars Ijabs said the mission’s observation would extend beyond Dhaka to other parts of the country, noting that the mission is currently assessing the pre-election environment and that procedural issues – such as voter registration, the conduct of voting, and overall credibility – which he said would be a key focus.

Referring to his meeting with the CEC, Ijabs said that Awal had already briefed the mission on the election process and the significant challenges involved in conducting the polls, as the parliamentary polls are scheduled to be held alongside the July Charter referendum; which would in turn determine both the country’s constitutional status, as well as shape its future trajectory, making them a historically significant moment.

On the scale of the mission, Ijabs said a core team is already operating in Bangladesh and that the mission will be expanded significantly on election day, with 200 observers, including members of the European Parliament.