Stefan Liller, UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative, shared the hopeful message after attending a briefing for development partners organized by the Election Commission (EC). "We are supporting the EC to conduct a free and fair election, and we hope it will be the best in Bangladesh’s history—that is our aspiration," he said.
The meeting, held at the EC office in Dhaka, was attended by diplomats and representatives from 18 countries, including the EU, USA, UK, Japan, China, and South Korea.
Liller emphasized that the election timeline is the responsibility of the interim government and the EC, noting, "We have no role in determining that."
He declined to comment on the potential challenges of the election process.
The UN’s support for the elections was formally requested by the EC in December, with a needs assessment team visiting in January to evaluate areas for technical assistance. Ongoing discussions are focusing on support for EC strengthening, voter registration, and training.