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Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election 2026, the Alliance for Fair Election and Democracy (AFED) organized a discussion meeting with editors and civil society to strengthen electoral transparency, accountability, and public trust. Date: 20 January 2026 Venue: Lakeshore Grand, Gulshan, Dhaka Theme: Discussion with Editors on Sample-Based Observation of the 13th National Election 2026. AFED announced that, following Election Commission guidelines, it will deploy around 3,000 citizen observers on election day, including: – 175 long-term observers (LTOs) – 1800 Sample-based Observation (SBO) observers in 900 polling centers – 800 Short-Term Observers (STOs) in high-risk and politically sensitive areas The collected findings will support evidence-based assessments of electoral integrity. AFED Member Secretary Md. Harun-Or-Rashid highlighted that sample-based observation is an internationally recognized scientific method for assessing election quality. Anastasia S. Wibawa (AHEAD Bangladesh, EPD) emphasized its role in presenting a representative national picture and improving future elections. The Editors and representatives from Media and civil society members also shared their views. The session was moderated by Adv. Rokhsana Khondker, Co-Chair, AFED. Additional remarks were delivered by Rafiqul Islam Khokan, Co-Chair, AFED; Munira Khan, President, FEMA and the discussion concluded with closing remarks by Wazed Firoz, Board Member, AFED. AFED’s election observation and discussion with Editors initiatives are supported by the European Union and implemented with assistance from the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD).

Elections are not one-day events. Observation shouldn’t be either. Yesterday marked the official launch of the Alliance for Fair Election and Democracy — a nationwide alliance of 30 civil society organisations, including 13 accredited observer groups, committed to independent and evidence-based election observation for Bangladesh’s 13th Parliamentary Elections and the July Charter Referendum on 12 February 2026. With support from EPD and the European Union, AFED will assess the pre-election and campaign environment in 175 constituencies and, on election day, deploy 2,500 trained observers nationwide, using a statistics-based observation that ensures findings reflect evidence.

 A successful election is not possible alone—it needs everyone’s contribution. A delegation of the Alliance for Fair Election and Democracy (AFED) met Mr. A. M. M. Nasir Uddin, Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner, Bangladesh Election Commission, on 22 December 2025 at the Bangladesh Election Commission.

“Citizen monitoring is essential to ensure electoral transparency,” said Ivars Ijabs, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission, at a roundtable with citizen observation groups. The meeting, held on 9 January 2026, was attended by the Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission and other officials, as well as Md. Harun-or-Rashid, Member Secretary and Executive Director of the Alliance for Fair Elections and Democracy (AFED), Light House and representatives of other networks involved in election observation, who will deploy long- and short-term observers for the upcoming elections. “AFED will recruit 3,000 long- and short-term observers nationwide for the 13th National Parliament Elections and training is ongoing for all observers to conduct evidence-based, impartial observation. AFED is also providing support to other partner networks and new observation organizations,” said Md. Harun-or-Rashid on behalf of “AFED” at this meeting.