By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Over 5,500 local and international election observers will monitor the Aug. 4 polls in four city corporations and nine municipalities in Bangladesh, reports said on Sunday.
So far 16 foreign missions have announced plans to employ 119 observers in the polls, leading English newspaper The Daily Star reported Sunday quoting the country’s Election Commission (EC) sources.
Meanwhile, local organizations have sought the EC’s permission to deploy around 5,500 observers.
On June 20 this year, the EC announced the election schedule for four city corporations and nine municipalities. The same day the government relaxed the emergency power rules to allow rallies and processions in the areas going to polls.
The Aug. 4 local government election will be the first ones under the current caretaker administration that took over on Jan. 12, 2007, a day after the state of emergency was promulgated.
The state of emergency was promulgated to quell political violence between major political parties over abortive ninth parliamentary polls set for Jan. 22, 2007.
The EC has announced the stalled general election will be held in December 2008.