The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over 30 desktop computers to Bangladesh’s Electoral Training Institute (ETI) on Thursday, bolstering the institution’s capacity for electoral training and knowledge management.
The handover at the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) office marks a strategic shift in UNDP’s engagement—from supporting election delivery to reinforcing post-election institutional resilience. The move follows the successful conduct of Bangladesh’s 13th Parliamentary Elections on February 12, 2026, which highlighted the BEC’s operational leadership and professionalism. The elections were held peacefully, benefiting from technical support under UNDP’s Democratic Reforms through Inclusive Participation (DRIP) and BALLOT projects.
As Bangladesh enters the post-election phase, the focus is on consolidating gains, capturing lessons learned, and preparing for upcoming local elections. ETI serves as the central hub for training election officials and strengthening institutional knowledge.
The new IT equipment is expected to modernize ETI’s training systems, enabling digital learning, simulation-based exercises, and improved data management, thereby supporting continuous learning across the electoral cycle.
At the ceremony, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, election commissioner of Bangladesh, said: “Today’s handover marks an important milestone in strengthening our post-election capacity. It shows that when national institutions and international partners work together, meaningful progress is possible and sustainable.”
UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Stefan Liller highlighted the organization’s continued support, saying it will build on recent achievements to strengthen the commission and prepare for future local elections.
The event was chaired by Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, director general of ETI, and attended by KM Ali Newaz, additional secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat; Sonali Dayaratne, UNDP deputy resident representative; Andres Castillo, chief technical adviser for UN electoral assistance; and other officials.
UNDP’s support aims to enhance ETI’s ability to deliver standardized, scalable, and digitally enabled training programs, ultimately improving election officials’ preparedness and performance. The initiative also contributes to long-term institutional resilience by ensuring that electoral knowledge and best practices are systematically documented and applied.
UNDP’s electoral assistance in Bangladesh is supported by key partners, including the governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
This latest handover reaffirms UNDP’s commitment to long-term democratic governance in Bangladesh, helping institutions not only deliver credible elections but sustain and strengthen them over time.
