The European Union (EU) will provide Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) with over €4.0 million in assistance to conduct next Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections, the EU Ambassador to Dhaka Michael Miller said.
"European Union will provide a support package in excess of € 4.0 million to help Bangladesh conduct elections in line with international standards," he said.
"The European Union is here working in partnership with Bangladesh to support a transition leading up to democratic elections," added Mr Miller.
He disclosed this while briefing media after he took part in a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at EC headquarters in the city's Agargaon area on Tuesday.
The meeting was the fourth between the EC and the EU, which has been providing technical support to the EC in preparing voter list and training personnel involved in conducting election.
Terming the meeting successful, Mr Miller also said the EU would continue to support the EC in capacity building, strengthening citizen observation, operational planning and dispute resolution.
"Today I was accompanied not only by the EU delegation but also by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), our implementing partners," said Mr Miller.
Brussels-based the EPD is a membership-based network of not-for-profit organisations with a global mandate to support democracy.
Mr Miller also said they (EPD) comprise electoral experts who will be here to ensure a strong focus on citizen observation in the coming elections.
Highlighting the need for voter education, he said the EU is determined to empower Bangladesh and the EC.
"I would like to mention that we will also directly support the Bangladesh Election Commission in capacity building and providing expert input, including in the areas of operational planning and dispute resolution," he said.
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