IRI meets EC, says preparations for February polls ‘satisfactory’

The US-based organisation says it will publish a report soon after completing its Bangladesh visit

A pre-election observer team from the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) has met Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah in Dhaka to discuss preparations for the parliamentary polls.

The IRI delegation expressed satisfaction with the EC’s overall readiness for the vote during the meeting at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon on Wednesday, according to a commission media statement.

The EC expects the IRI to deploy international observers for the February election.

Earlier, the team met Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and the BNP leaders, discussing the electoral process and political climate.

The IRI representatives said they planned to send at least 10 observers to monitor the vote.

The eight-strong IRI group, led by board member Christopher Fussner, works globally to support democracy.

Afterwards, Fussner described the discussions as “productive” and said the group will publish a report soon after concluding their visit.