227 foreigners apply to observe polls
EC calls meeting tomorrow to talk visa and accreditation issues
A total of 227 foreign observers have applied to the Election Commission so far to observe and cover the 12th national elections scheduled on 7 January.
According to EC sources, 156 foreigners and 71 journalists expressed interest in observing and covering the elections.
The commission will sit with relevant ministries and agencies tomorrow regarding visa clearance and accreditation to the foreign observers.
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Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Public Safety and Security Services, the NSI and DGFI will be present at Sunday's meeting.
It will be held in the chief election commissioner's (CEC) conference room in Agargaon's Nirbachon Bhaban, presided over by Additional Secretary of the EC Secretariat Ashok Kumar Debnath.
Meanwhile, the commission has invited 114 people from 34 countries and four organisations to monitor the polls. The EC will bear all the local travel and accommodation expenses of those guests.
Invited countries include India, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia, Canada, France, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Senegal, Thailand, Azerbaijan , Malaysia, Mauritius, Tunisia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan and Singapore.
Besides Saarc and OIC Secretary General, Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA), and A-Web chairpersons have also been invited.
