Observers have started coming to Bangladesh ahead of the general election, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said.
“A total of 60 foreign observers have arrived so far. More will come,” he said, adding that 73 foreign journalists got accreditation to cover the election.
A total of 127 foreign observers are expected to come before the election, he said, while briefing reporters at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on Thursday.
Before that, the Election Commission briefed foreign diplomats to inform them about the preparations for the 12th national polls.
Ambassadors, high commissioners, representatives of the United Nations offices and international organizations posted in Dhaka attended the briefing.
Representatives from over 50 countries including the US, India, China, Russia, Japan, Germany, South Korea, the United Kingdom, European Union, and Sweden participated in the briefing.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal briefed them and later took questions.
The foreign secretary said they had fewer questions since the Election Commission kept them updated from the beginning of the election preparation process.
One diplomat asked whether the voters were being pressured to go to the polling station.
The Chief Election Commissioner replied that there was no such pressure from their side.
“We encourage voters to exercise their right since one group (BNP) is campaigning against the election,” he said.
