The Election Commission (EC) has provisionally approved 73 domestic organisations to serve as election observers for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections, following a rigorous screening process from a pool of 318 applicants.
Md. Ashadul Haque, Assistant Director of the EC’s Public Relations Branch, confirmed the decision on Saturday, 28 September, stating that a formal notification has been issued listing the eligible organisations. The Commission has opened a window for objections, allowing any concerned party to submit written complaints to the Election Commission Secretary by 20 October. Final registration will be confirmed only after all claims and objections are reviewed and resolved.
This marks the latest phase in Bangladesh’s evolving framework for election observation. The practice of formally accrediting domestic observer groups was first introduced ahead of the 9th National Parliamentary Election. Initially, observer registrations were valid for one year, but the policy was later extended to a five-year cycle.
Historically, the number of accredited groups has fluctuated with each electoral cycle. In 2008, the Election Commission under Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda registered 138 organisations, of which 75 actively monitored the 9th parliamentary election. In 2011, 120 groups were registered; their accreditation was later extended by one year in 2016 by the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed Commission after the original term expired.
During the 10th parliamentary election, 35 observer organisations participated. Ahead of the 11th parliamentary election in 2018, 199 applications were received, and the K. M. Nurul Huda Commission approved 119—though only 81 ultimately deployed observers on election day.
Most recently, for the 12th parliamentary election, the Kazi Habibul Awal Commission shortlisted 68 organisations from 210 applications.
The current selection of 73 groups reflects the EC’s continued emphasis on transparency and inclusive oversight, even as it exercises caution in vetting applicants. The final list, to be confirmed after the objection period, will play a key role in monitoring the electoral process as Bangladesh prepares for polls scheduled for February 2025.