Over 55,000 domestic observers to monitor Bangladesh election

Around 500 foreign observers are also expected to be on the ground

More than 55,000 domestic observers will be deployed to monitor the 13th parliamentary election and the accompanying referendum, the Election Commission (EC) has revealed.

According to the commission, a total of 55,454 observers from 81 registered domestic organisations will be involved.

Md Ashadul Haque, assistant director of the EC's Public Relations Department, said on Monday that 7,997 observers would be deployed centrally, while 47,457 would work at the local level.

The announcement came a day after the EC briefed diplomats on preparations for the election.

At that briefing, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said 51 political parties were contesting the election, with a total of 1,994 candidates. Of those, 256 are running as independent candidates.

The domestic observers are expected to be joined by around 500 foreign poll watchers.

Sanaullah also said more than 943,000 members of various security forces would be deployed to maintain law and order during the election.

Around 800,000 officials will be involved in election duties, including 69 returning officers, 598 assistant returning officers, 42,779 presiding officers, 247,482 assistant presiding officers and 495,764 polling officers. A further 15,000 officials will be assigned to oversee postal voting.