British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to supporting consensus-building and reforms to ensure free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh.
Speaking to reporters after her first meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and his team on Monday, Cooke described the discussions as “very productive.”
The CEC shared that the UK delegation sought insights into the EC’s preparations for the upcoming general election, including voter registration and foreign observer participation. "They [the UK] want to provide assistance in Bangladesh’s democratic transition," Nasir Uddin remarked.
The CEC outlined the EC’s ongoing voter registration program and its plans to revise the domestic observer policy, while the foreign observer policy will proceed as usual. Applications for foreign observers will be invited ahead of the elections.
He added that the EC is working toward announcing the election schedule in October, targeting a possible election in December. “We are preparing in such a way so that we do not miss the timeline,” Nasir Uddin said.
The UK envoy discussed potential assistance, particularly in training election agents and observers on electoral conduct rules and laws. The CEC welcomed the offer, noting that such support could contribute to a smoother electoral process.
