Fifty foreign journalists and seventy-eight international observers have expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh to monitor the upcoming parliamentary election, according to Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. He made the announcement on Thursday after a meeting with various government ministries, departments, and mobile banking institutions regarding election-related arrangements. Ahmed also confirmed that mobile banking services will not be completely suspended during the election period, though operations will be limited.

The EC secretary stated that eighty-three foreign observers had already been invited, with thirty-six confirming participation and five declining. The rest have yet to confirm. The invited observers are expected to stay at the Intercontinental Hotel during the voting period. Additionally, fifty-eight European Union observers are currently monitoring pre-election activities. Ahmed noted that the total number of foreign observers could approach three hundred.

He further explained that vote counting will take longer this time because voters will cast ballots on two separate papers, which will extend the counting process beyond the usual timeframe.