A seven-member European Union (EU) Exploratory Mission will meet the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to discuss the possible deployment of an observation mission to Bangladesh for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections.

EC Secretariat Joint Secretary Md Moin Uddin Khan told BSS that the seven-member EU team will meet EC officials led by Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah.

Senior election expert Riccardo Chellery will lead the EU delegation.

Moin Uddin said the EU team will meet EC officials from 3 pm to 4 pm tomorrow. They will also hold a separate meeting with Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah from 4 pm to 5 pm.

The EC official said the EU team is mainly discussing the upcoming 13th National Parliament election with various government and private stakeholders.

Later, based on the recommendations of the fact-finding team, the EU will consider sending an observation mission to Bangladesh during the election period, in accordance with its procedures.

Earlier on Thursday, EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said a delegation from the European Union would visit the EC office on September 22 to meet with an Election Commissioner.

He added that the EU team would also meet with officials of the EC Secretariat on the same day.

The meeting will discuss preparations for the 13th National Parliament elections, the political environment ahead of the polls, and steps taken to ensure free and fair elections.

EC officials believe that such a meeting will help make the country’s electoral process more transparent and participatory.