Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said that foreign observers who previously termed the last three national elections in Bangladesh as fair will not be allowed to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections.

He made the remark on Tuesday (July 8) following a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls at the Nirbachon Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The CEC said the Canadian envoy inquired about the Election Commission’s preparations for the next national election. “We briefed her on our readiness, including voter awareness campaigns and the various types of training we plan to conduct,” he said.

“They (Canada) want us to ensure a free, fair, and acceptable election. We also discussed the misuse of AI, and they will provide suggestions on such issues. Canada expressed satisfaction with the current Election Commission’s commitment to holding fair elections and assured us of their support. They may assist with the ballot project or in other ways,” he added.

Nasir Uddin also mentioned that many foreign observers, including from the European Union, have expressed interest in monitoring the upcoming elections. “However, those who previously issued overly positive certifications about the last three elections will not be allowed this time,” he stated.