IRI, NDI team meets EC for updates on polls preparation

A 5-member of the US International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) jointly held a meeting with the Election Commission for updates about its preparations for the 7 January polls.

The visiting NDI and IRI technical assessment team met Chief Election Commission Kazi Habibul Awal on Monday at the Agargaon election building and later Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath briefed media.

He said, "The delegation inquired about our preparations, including security plans, delivery of election materials, and representation of minority issues in the code of conduct."

"The meeting was confidential. The delegation requested us not to disclose details to the media," Ashok Kumar Debnath says.

Members of the delegation also did not speak to the media.

Additionally, a team from both institutions arrived in Dhaka on 25 December to conduct a six-to-eight-week to monitor potential electoral violence before, during, and after the elections.

The team will conduct a "limited technical review on possible violent situations" before, during and after the 7 January parliamentary elections, according to IRI.

Earlier, a Pre-Election Observation Mission (PEAM) of NDI and IRI visited Bangladesh for four days from 8 October. During the visit, the delegation met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as well as some ministers of the government, political parties, Election Commission, civil society as well as various foreign missions.

The upcoming polls will see 1,943 candidates from 27 parties compete for parliamentary seats. The EC has completed all necessary preparations, including ballot paper printing.