Only four foreign election observers and 30 foreign journalists observed the 10th parliamentary elections. The European Union, the United States and the Commonwealth did not send any observers.
According to the EC, 1,250 local observers got election passes while 1,345 of print media journalists and 2,343 journalists of electronic media got election passes from the commission.
Local journalists got election passes from the returning officer.
Two representatives from India and two from Bhutan came to Bangladesh to observe the polls, under the election observation group Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia.
Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura Ashotosh Zindal and Director of the Election Commission of India BB Garg observed the polls from India.
Bhutan government’s Director of Voter Registration and Fixing Demarcations Sonam Tobgyal and Manager of Public Election Fund Division Tashi Dorji also observed the polls.
The commission gave them necessary security and protocol.
Foreign observers including the EU earlier announced that they would not observe the polls because the main opposition was not participating in the elections and because of the ongoing political violence.
