The United States has announced that it will send a pre-election assessment mission to Bangladesh to provide an independent and impartial evaluation of the country’s election preparations. The mission, which will take place from October 7 to 13, aims to gather information on the electoral context and determine whether a limited international election observation mission is required for Election Day.
The joint assessment mission will be conducted by the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, both funded by the US government. The delegation, consisting of six delegates and support staff, will meet with various stakeholders, including the Bangladesh Election Commission, government agencies, political parties, civic organizations, media organizations, and foreign diplomatic missions.
Following the visit, the delegation will issue a public statement highlighting positive trends, areas of concern, and practical recommendations. The mission aims to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election in Bangladesh, where the people can freely elect their leaders.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also emphasized its focus on the election process rather than the outcome. The USAID mission director for Bangladesh, Reed Aeschliman, stated that they wanted to see the election conducted in a transparent manner and emphasized the importance of democratic principles in driving economic growth.
The US ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, expressed his country’s readiness to support a free and fair election. He highlighted the importance of holding the government accountable and spoke against the oppression of journalists, media personalities, and Nobel laureates.
Bangladesh is approaching its national election, and the United States is committed to ensuring a democratic process that allows the people to exercise their right to choose their leaders. The assessment mission will play a crucial role in evaluating the election preparations and providing an independent analysis of the electoral context.
