A team of foreign and local election observers yesterday said the 11th Jatiya Sangsad polls was held almost in a free, fair and peaceful manner maintaining the world standard. “The polls was world standard . . . The atmosphere was very peaceful,” Assistant Secretary General (Economic Affairs) of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) Amb. Hameed A. Opeloyeru told journalists at a city hotel after monitoring the overall polls situation in Bangladesh.

He said as a member of election observers he along with their team members visited many polling centers in Dhaka, Munshiganj and Narayanganj where they saw agents of all major political parties in the booths and spontaneous participation of voters amid a peaceful atmosphere.

Replying to a query of journalists about holding a credible election, the OIC observer expressed his satisfaction saying, “We are very happy” to see the general atmosphere in Bangladesh parliamentary polls.”

Earlier, Tania Foster, an observer from Canada said, “Everybody is getting access to their polling stations and able to cast their ballots. All of the poll officials are doing a great job maintaining order.”

While talking to journalists at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College polling centre, she said the polls took place smoothly and peacefully and everyone was getting access to polling stations.

Tania Foster said she visited five centres so far and a number of polling booths.

“Everything that I have observed to this point has demonstrated that the voters are feeling empowered and enthusiastic about being able to come and vote,” she added.

Observer Dr Gautom Ghosh of India said, “Voting going on very spontaneously. There is complete peace and I feel everything is good till now.”

Nepalese observer Dipendra Kandel also said the election was held in an peaceful atmosphere with the spontaneous participation of people.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has appreciated the role of Bangladesh Election Commission saying it was "meticulous planning and organisation" by the Bangladesh Election Commission.

"....a lot of gaiety was visible. Whatever we've perceived I think it was very meticulous planning and meticulous organisation by the Bangladesh Election Commission," Ariz Aftab, Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, told reporters at a city hotel sharing their experience.

Aftab said the Election Commission of Bangladesh and Election Commission of India have a long-standing relationship of cooperation and cordial relationship.

He said teams from Bangladesh EC have regularly visited India during Indian elections and it has been a long-standing precedence of visits from the Indian EC to witness the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.

This time also the EC of India has sent a three-member team here to witness the parliamentary elections, Aftab said.

During the polls of the day, he said, they visited few polling stations. "We definitely feel that there has been very meticulous planning as per as the EC of Bangladesh is concerned."

"We hope that through this visit the relationship between the EC of India and EC of Bangladesh will be strengthened...this is to carry forward good and cordial relationship between the Election Commissions of the two countries," Aftab added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Awami League, in its post election briefing at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon, claimed that the election was held almost peacefully excepting some stray incidents.

“We delivered an inclusive and participatory elections what our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina committed to the nation,” Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi told journalists at a press conference there.

Replying to a query of foreign journalist, he said the polls was participatory and peaceful.

He said a total of 14 people were killed in separate clashes through the country during the polling day. “Of them 10 people belonging to Awami League were killed in clashes,” he added.

Former ambassador Shaheed Reza, Awami League International Affairs Secretary Shammi Akhter, members of AL election observers’ team, foreign and local election observers, among others , were present .

Another report adds: A total of 174 foreign observers and 65 foreign journalists from various countries and organisations are observing the nation election, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) yesterday.

Some 25,900 local observers from 81 organisations and 7000-8000 local media personnel are also observing and covering the election.

The election is being conducted by the independent Election Commission, which has over the last five years (2012-2017) successfully organised 6,937 elections at the national and local levels against 4,808 electoral posts, it said.

The ministry said the people of the country earnestly hope that this election will be yet another milestone in Bangladesh's journey to sustained high economic growth, prosperity and inclusion in a democratic environment.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated her commitment to accept people's verdict, it said.

For the 11th national election, it has already deployed 66 returning officers, 40,183 presiding officers and 414,624 polling officers to help 10,42,38,677 voters to cast their votes.

As regard the law and order situation, 1,328 executive magistrates and 244 judicial magistrates have been deployed in the polling centers along with 6,08,000 law enforcing personnel from Police, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry said it was possible due to prompt and efficient facilitation by the Election Commission.