Bangladesh EC Registers 66 Local Election Observer Groups Ahead of 2026 Polls

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has finalized the registration of local election observer organizations in preparation for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election scheduled for early February 2026.

The EC has granted final registration to 66 organizations to act as local election observers. An additional 16 firms have been identified as eligible for registration. A public notification inviting objections or complaints regarding these 16 organizations will be issued shortly.

Any claims, objections, or complaints about the 16 eligible firms must be submitted in writing to the EC by November 27, 2025.

Earlier, the EC had invited claims and objections regarding 73 proposed observer organizations. Following the settlement of these objections, the commission registered 66 and rejected seven proposals.

The EC introduced the observer registration system in 2008. The article provides historical data on the number of registered vs. actively monitoring organizations in previous national elections: o 2008 Election: 138 registered, 75 monitored. o 2014 Election: 120 registered, 35 monitored. o 2018 Election: 119 registered, 81 monitored. o 2024 Election: 96 registered, 80 monitored.