EU Not Sending Observers Due To Budget Shortfall: EC Secretary

Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam said that the full team of the European Union will not come to monitor the 12th National Parliament election due to the lack of budget.

He himself confirmed the matter to the journalists at his office in Agargaon on Thursday (September 21).

EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has received a letter from the European Union by mail. In that email, the European Union said that they had a meeting with the stake holders of Bangladesh from July 6 to 22. They thanked for that.

Md Jahangir Alam said, they (EU) said that sending a full team is financially effected. They will not send observers due to non-availability of the allocation for the fiscal year 2023-2024. However, they also said in the letter that they will continue to communicate later.

Md. Jahangir Alam said, they came to our country, talked to many people of our country. They did not say anything whether to observe with those who are in our country or not.

When asked whether there is any apprehension about the election, the EC secretary said that there is no mention of such in the language of this letter. Only they informed that they will not send full team.