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Published : 08 Jul 2026, 12:08 PM
The Election Commission (EC) has begun a dialogue with stakeholders to discuss recommendations on election observation as it weighs reforms ahead of future polls.
The commission says the proposals will help shape both short and long-term plans.
On Wednesday, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah opened the two-day dialogue at a hotel in Dhaka, saying the EC had received a number of recommendations from observer groups and other stakeholders before and after the parliamentary election.
He said the commission expected to review the proposals and use them to set reform priorities for future elections.
He said the EC had sought opinions from observer groups and stakeholders throughout the election process and hoped the dialogue would produce further recommendations to make elections more inclusive.
The commissioner said all proposals would be reviewed with a view to implementing priority reforms before the next election.
After holding the February election, the EC has been preparing for local government polls.
It has also been gathering stakeholder feedback on changes to election rules.
A number of local and international organisations observed the national election.
Reports have already been submitted by the European Union, the Asian Network for Free Elections and the Commonwealth Observer Group.
Wednesday's discussions continue that process by reviewing the recommendations with stakeholders.
More than 50 representatives, including local election observers, civil society organisations, and election officials, are taking part in the dialogue, organised jointly by the European Partnership for Democracy and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
Discussions focus on election observation recommendations, reform priorities and implementation.
Sanaullah said such discussions were part of an ongoing process to strengthen democracy.
He said the EC was evaluating recommendations submitted after the election and would also consider proposals emerging from the two-day dialogue.
He sought cooperation from all stakeholders for the scheduled local government polls.
Michael Miller, EU envoy to Dhaka, said the EU had maintained close engagement with the EC before and after the election and had already put forward 19 recommendations in its report.
He said further proposals were expected from the workshop and should be prioritised for implementation, adding that stakeholders had played an important role in the democratic process.
Michael Lidauer of the European Partnership for Democracy said recommendations from the workshop would help shape future election planning and support preparations for local government polls.
The two-day dialogue will also be attended by Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Mashud, Tahmida Ahmed, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, Sanaullah, and Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed.
