The UN has announced that it will not deploy election observers for the upcoming Bangladesh polls

The United Nations has announced that it will not send election observers to Bangladesh’s national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, citing the lack of a formal mandate from its governing bodies.

Speaking at a regular press briefing in New York, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organisation no longer deploys election observation missions unless specifically authorised by the General Assembly or the Security Council.

“No. We do not… the UN itself doesn’t send observers unless there is a mandate from the General Assembly or the Security Council. So that’s no longer something that we do,” he stated.

The briefing details were published on the UN press website.

Dujarric added that the UN could instead provide technical assistance through its country office, a common form of support during elections.

“I can check for you whether the UN country office is offering any technical support, which is something that we often do in terms of the elections,” he said, without providing further details.

The remarks come amid heightened international attention on Bangladesh’s political transition ahead of the polls.

The spokesperson also addressed the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, expressing condolences on behalf of the organisation.

“We obviously send condolences to her family and to the people of Bangladesh on her passing,” he said.

The comments were made during an official UN press briefing and published on the organisation’s press website.