European Union Election Observation Mission chief observer Ivars Ijabs has underscored the importance of secure, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh, highlighting equal opportunities for all candidates and the participation of women and minority groups as key priorities.

Speaking after a meeting with chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday, Ijabs said that the EU was closely following developments as the country was approaching polling day on February 12.

He said that the EU EOM was looking forward to cooperating with Bangladesh and hoped the upcoming election would be transparent, participatory and credible, reflecting the will of the people.

The EU chief observer said that participation was very important and should include all groups of Bangladeshi citizens, including women and minorities, and that a level playing field for all candidates was also crucial.

He said that the EU EOM deployed 60 long-term observers across the country several weeks ago to monitor the pre-election environment.

Ijabs said that short-term observers would be dispatched in the coming days and would be present in every district on election day to observe polling and counting.

The EU chief observer expressed appreciation to both the interim government and the election commission for inviting the mission, reiterating Europe’s commitment to its relationship with Bangladesh as a democratic and developing nation.

Ijabs said that discussions with the election commission focused on challenges ahead of the polls, given that the country is now in the final week of the election campaign.

He, however, was careful to stress that the EU mission’s role was strictly observational.