The European Union has announced a €4 million contribution to assist Bangladesh in conducting its 13th national elections in line with international standards.

Michael Miller, EU ambassador to Bangladesh, disclosed the support at a press briefing yesterday following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka on Wednesday (August 20). The meeting, joined by a six-member EU delegation, lasted from 11:00am to 12:30pm.

As part of the initiative, a team of EU technical experts will visit Bangladesh next month to assess whether conditions are conducive to deploying a full-fledged election observation mission. “This is not the observation mission; their role is to assess whether the conditions are suitable,” Miller clarified.

The ambassador emphasized that the EU’s goal is to strengthen Bangladesh’s democratic process. “The European Union is working in partnership with Bangladesh to support a transition leading to democratic elections. We are moving toward a timeline in early 2026,” he said.

He further noted that the EU considers Bangladesh a priority for a potential observation mission and is in continuous discussions with the interim government and the Election Commission. “We want your elections to be credible, held in line with international standards, and of course free and fair,” Miller stressed.

The EU also highlighted its broader focus on ensuring the independence, efficiency, and accountability of Bangladesh’s institutions as part of its engagement with the country.

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