Japanese team to observe polls

The government of Japan has sent a 14-member election observer mission to Bangladesh, which will monitor pre and post polls situation from January 5 to January 9.

“The mission will be headed by WATANABE Masato, former Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, and will consist of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh as well as an outside expert,” said a press release of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Japan received on Thursday.

In addition to observing the casting and counting of votes, the mission will exchange views and information with the Bangladesh Election Commission and election observer missions from other countries.

The dispatch of the election observer mission is part of Japan's cooperation for the consolidation of democracy in Bangladesh in response to the Bangladesh Election Commission's announcement that it would welcome international election observers, it added.