EU not sending observers for Bangladesh polls

Staff Correspondent: The European Union (EU) is not sending its polling observers to monitor the forthcoming 11^th parliamentary election of Bangladesh as it lacks adequate time and preparation.

The matter was confirmed by EU Ambassador in Dhaka Rensje Teerink while he was briefing reporters after a meeting held with the Election Commission at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon on Wednesday afternoon.

“It needs at least six months for adequate preparation to send full-fledged election observation team to monitor the large-scale general election like the one in Bangladesh. So, the member states of the EU have taken a decision not to send its observers to Bangladesh to a large scale. It will send an expert team in small size,” Teerink said.

David Noel Ward, chief of Election Exert Mission of the EU, led a four-member delegation in the meeting that began at 2:15pm.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, four other commissioners and the EC secretary were present at the meeting.

risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 28, 2018/Hasibul/AI