Nine intl bodies, 12 missions to observe polls
Special Correspondent, Dhaka
The government has given accreditations to 188 members of nine international organisations and 12 foreign missions to observe the upcoming parliamentary election. The organisations set to act as observers include the EU, Commonwealth, OIC, Forum of Election Commission Management of South Asia (FEMBOSA), International Republican Institute (IRI), International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Democracy International (Dl), Dipendra Kandel Initiative (DKI) and SAARC Human Rights Foundation, said a press release issued by the foreign ministrys deputy director (mission), Md. Monzur-E-Mowla, yesterday.
The foreign missions accredited to observe the polls include the embassies and high commissions of the US, the UK, Greece, Ireland, Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Switzerland and Denmark. The foreign observers will come from a range of countries such as Australia, Bhutan, Canada, India, the US, Samoa, Malaysia, Maldives, Nigeria, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka and Philippines.
Also, 56 foreign journalists and media personnel are set to visit Bangladesh to cover the election. A number of them have already arrived in the country, the release said.
They will represent different international media groups like BBC, Cable News International. INC, Deutsche Welle, NHK, The Yomiuri Shimbun, AFP, AP, News Agency, Al-Jazeera, German TV, TV Today Network, New York Times, Le Monde, The Economist, Zee News, Kyodo News, Times of lndia, The Hindu, National Public Radio (USA), Strategic News, Frontline and The Week among others.
Stringers of foreign media will also work during the election.
As many as 118 local organisations with more than 25,000 observers will watch the upcoming election.
A coordination cell for international election observers has been established under the foreign ministry. The cell will also have representations from relevant ministries and departments including the home ministry and information and broadcasting ministry.
One unit of the cell has started operations from Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon, while a help desk has been set up at Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka to welcome and assist the foreign observers and media personnel.
Sources said constant liaison was being maintained between these units among the relevant ministries and especially with the Election Commission for smooth coordination. All Bangladeshi missions have been advised to assist them with visa facilities.
Arrangements have also been put in place for according visa on arrival to those observers and journalists who would not be in a position to obtain visa from Bangladeshi missions abroad.
The foreign observers and journalists are being issued accreditations and passes to enable them to observe polling on election day. In addition, the EC is issuing stickers for vehicles to be used by the foreign observers and media people as well as for those foreign missions in Bangladesh that have requested for registration to observe the election. Security support, when requested, will also be given to the foreign observers.
