Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Ivars Ijabs today said the EU will send a large observer team to Bangladesh, calling the upcoming national election and referendum “historic.”
He made the remarks during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the discussion focused on election preparations, a level playing field for parties, and the referendum, especially the “Yes” vote.
Ijabs said he has seen strong public enthusiasm for the polls, noting that the last three elections were not considered credible. He added that the EU decided to deploy observers in Bangladesh due to its large population, close ties with the EU, and strong trade relations.
The EU mission will be deployed across the country to monitor all areas and engage with political parties and other stakeholders.
Prof Yunus assured the EU that the election and referendum will be free, fair, peaceful, and credible. He said CCTV cameras will be installed at polling centres, body-worn cameras will be used by security forces at sensitive areas, and the military will remain on standby as a rapid response force.
On the referendum, the Chief Adviser said the interim government is legally allowed to campaign for a “Yes” vote and is already running awareness programmes.
He thanked the EU for sending observers, calling it vital for a credible election and Bangladesh’s democratic transition. Prof Yunus also warned about misinformation on social media and possible disruption attempts, but said security forces are fully prepared.
He expressed optimism about high voter turnout, especially among women and young people.
