US delegation arrives in Bangladesh for parliamentary elections monitoring

A proficient group comprising members from two distinct American institutions has reached Dhaka to oversee the 12th national elections.

The five-strong team from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) will stay in Bangladesh for six to eight weeks.

Per the IRI's press release on Saturday, the team will conduct a "limited technical review on possible violent situations" before and after the parliamentary elections on January 7, according to a bdnews24.com report.

While on their visit, the experts will evaluate the factors contributing to violence during elections and its consequences. This includes conflicts within and between political parties, violence against women and marginalised communities, as well as online harassment and threats.

The IRI stated that, based on their earlier visit's report, the technical team will offer a comprehensive report with constructive suggestions aimed at mitigating violence in the upcoming elections. Various elements of the technical review have been identified following this report.

During their previous visit, the team met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, government ministers, political parties, the Election Commission, civil society and various foreign missions.

At the end of their journey, the delegation advised fostering inclusive and constructive dialogues among political parties regarding crucial electoral matters to facilitate national elections in Bangladesh in a 'participatory and non-confrontational' fashion.