A pre-assessment team of the Commonwealth countries is coming to Bangladesh this month to monitor the situation ahead of the 12th General Election, expected to be held in the first week of January, 2024.
Officials in the Election Commission said, the Commonwealth pre-assessment delegation may come to Bangladesh in the third week of this month, and stay between 19-23 November.
Based on the report of that team the organisation may send observers during the polls, the officials said.
Referring to a director of the Commonwealth Nations, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal earlier said that the Commonwealth may send a pre-assessment team in the third week of November.
Besides, the CEC responded to a letter from the Commonwealth earlier this week regarding the visit to Bangladesh.
The CEC also said he expects a Commonwealth small-scale observation team to attend the election.
"We expect a team of them to come during the election after observing the pre-assessment situation," the CEC said.
Before this, the EC has asked for applications from foreign observers, individuals and organisations interested in observing Bangladesh's national polls.
The EC has written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform the embassies and high commissions of various countries in Dhaka about the invitation to applications.
International observers and media are invited to apply by 21 November.
Earlier, a pre-election monitoring team of the European Union also had a visit to Bangladesh and as per its report, the EU has decided to send an election observation team to observe the JS polls in Bangladesh.
Like the EU and the Commonwealth Nations, many countries, international organisations and different other bodies at home and abroad also have shown interest to send teams to observe the elections in Bangladesh.
