The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Bangladesh on Tuesday deployed 90 short-term observers across the country to monitor election day proceedings in all 64 administrative districts.

The short-term observers will observe the opening of polling centres, voting, closing of polls, as well as the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

“These short-term observers will be present in cities, towns and villages in almost every constituency. Their observations and reports throughout the day will be a critical element of our impartial and fact-based assessment of these historic elections,” EU EOM Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs told reporters.

With a total of around 200 observers deployed nationwide, he said the mission is contributing to the transparency of the historic elections in Bangladesh.

“This large and dedicated mission attests to the European Union’s unwavering commitment to the democratic governance of Bangladesh,” the Chief Observer said.

The deployment of short-term observers builds on the work of 56 long-term observers, who have been in Bangladesh since mid-January monitoring the pre-election environment, including preparations by the election administration, campaign activities and voter education efforts. They have also engaged with a wide range of electoral stakeholders from political parties and civil society.

The mission is further reinforced by a delegation of Members of the European Parliament, along with 35 locally recruited short-term observers from diplomatic missions of EU member states, as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland.

At full strength, the EU EOM comprises more than 200 observers drawn from all 27 EU member states, in addition to Canada, Norway and Switzerland.

The EU EOM will present its preliminary findings at a press conference in Dhaka on February 14.

A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be submitted to the authorities after the completion of the entire electoral process. Both the preliminary statement and the final report will be made public and published on the mission’s website.

The EU EOM operates under a strict code of conduct that requires neutrality and non-interference, and carries out its work in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, endorsed under United Nations auspices in 2005.