European Union has expressed its willingness to assist Bangladesh in conducting its next parliamentary election in line with international standards.
This commitment was conveyed by EU Ambassador Michael Miller during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin.
The discussion, held at the Election Commission Secretariat in Agargaon on Sunday (16 March) from 11am, lasted approximately one and a half hours.
The EU delegation, led by Miller, comprised five members who were briefed on Bangladesh's electoral preparations.
During the meeting, the CEC affirmed the commission’s commitment to holding a free, fair, and credible election.
He stated, "The EU Ambassador has assured that they are ready to extend all necessary support to ensure our elections meet international standards. They inquired about our preparations and progress, and we briefed them on all relevant aspects."
The discussion also covered financial aspects, including election budgeting.
CEC confirmed that there were no financial constraints, stating, "We have requested the necessary budget from the government. However, the EU delegation expressed interest in assisting us further and inquired about our specific needs. We informed them that the UNDP has already conducted a needs assessment and is prepared to provide support."
Additionally, the EU plans to hold a workshop next month, bringing together representatives from civil society.
The discussions will focus on training polling agents, voter education initiatives, and capacity-building for local election observers.
This meeting follows a prior discussion last Tuesday, where the EU delegation expressed full support for the Election Commission’s ongoing reform initiatives.
