Three senior members of the Election Commission of India on Friday flew to Dhaka ahead of Bangladesh's 12th general election on Sunday, January 7. They will participate in the monitoring process as part of the international election observers' team, reported news agency ANI.
An official from the Bangladesh Embassy in Delhi was quoted by ANI as saying, "Three members of the Election Commission of India are among those who landed in Dhaka as part of the international election observers' team."
Bangladesh authorities have made rigorous arrangements to ensure that the national election is carried out in a fair and peaceful manner. The Army has been deployed in several districts to assist the Election Commission and local administration to peacefully conduct the elections. Personnel from the Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, and members of the Coast Guard have also been deployed for election duty.
However, the opposition, BNP, has decided to boycott the polls, claiming that they have doubts about the fairness of elections being conducted under the Awami League government.
Apart from India, the international election experts' team includes members from the European Union, the Commonwealth, and other countries.
India's newly appointed MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, in a press briefing said, "The elections in Bangladesh is its domestic affair. It is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their future."
As per Bangladesh's Daily Star newspaper, a 10-member Awami League delegation held a meeting with a 15-member Commonwealth Observer group, on Friday. The present government of the Awami League, while welcoming the Commonwealth team, expressed its commitment to conduct free, fair, and acceptable elections in the country.
"Today I’ve appeared before you to ask for votes in favour of the symbol, Boat,” Sheikh Hasina said in a televised address to the people of Bangladesh, reported Dhaka Tribune. Hasina, who is also the Awami League president, said that she would make sustainable development, improve people's standard of living, and eradicate hunger and poverty if she is voted for another five-year term.
The upcoming Bangladesh general election will see participation from 180 overseas observers and 30 countries.