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).
