EC nominates initial 120 organizations as election observers

The Election Commission (EC) has initially nominated 120 private organizations as election observers, according to a press release. Most of these organizations were previously registered with the EC. Some of them are regional organizations. In the EC media statement, issued on Monday, the organizations have been told to file applications within the next 15 days if they have any demand or objection or complaint about any matter. EC sources say the commission invited applications from the private organizations for registration at the end of last year. Altogether 199 organizations applied to be election observers. After scrutiny, the commission began with an initial nomination of 120. In 2011, the then ATM Shamsul Huda-led EC, too, had registered 120 organizations as observers. The five-year registration expired in January 2016. Later, the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC extended the registration by one year. The incumbent KM Nurul Huda-led EC added six more months to the registration. The commission issued a circular for registration of election observers after the extension expired in June last year.This article was first published on banglatribune.com