International poll observers meet CA

International election observation missions from the United States, Turkey, and the Commonwealth held separate courtesy meetings with Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, as preparations continue for the country’s upcoming national polls.

On Tuesday, a five-member delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI) met Professor Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, said the CA Office.

The team was led by David Dreier, a former United States congressman. The meeting focused on Bangladesh’s electoral environment and the role of international observers in supporting transparent and credible elections, officials familiar with the discussion said.

Also present at the meeting were Lamia Morshed, the Chief Coordinator on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Chief Adviser’s Office, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a separate meeting the same day, a seven-member Turkish election observer delegation met Professor Yunus at Jamuna. The delegation, composed of members of the Turkish Parliament, was led by Mehmet Akif Yilmaz, chair of the Turkey–Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Group. Officials said the discussion highlighted parliamentary cooperation and Turkey’s interest in observing Bangladesh’s electoral process.

Earlier, on Monday, a 23-member delegation from the Commonwealth Observer Group also paid a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser. The delegation was led by H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, former president of Ghana and chair of the Commonwealth observer mission.

Officials from the Chief Adviser’s Office and the Foreign Ministry were present at all three meetings. The visits underscore growing international attention on Bangladesh’s election, which the interim administration has described as a key test for restoring public confidence in democratic institutions.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com