The Coordination Cell has been set up under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with representations from the relevant ministries and departments, including the Ministries of Home Affairs and of Information.
Nine international organisations and groups and a dozen of foreign missions in Bangladesh are set to observe and watch the upcoming election with their 188 observers, said the Foreign Ministry here.
The European Union (EU), the Commonwealth, the OIC, Forum of Election Commission Management of South Asia (FEMBOSA), International Republican Institute (IRl), International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Democracy International (Dl), Dipendra Kandel Initiative (DKI) and SAARC Human Rights Foundation are the organisations.
The Foreign Missions accredited to observe election include Embassies/High Commissions of the USA, the UK, Greece, Ireland, Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, and more.
The foreign observers are coming from a range of countries such as Australia, Bhutan, Canada, India, the USA, Samoa, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nigeria, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
Along with the foreign observers so far 56 foreign journalists and media personnel are also set to visit Bangladesh to cover the election, some of them are already in Bangladesh.
They will be representing different international media groups like BBC, Cable News Int. INC, Deutsche Welle, NHK, The Yomiuri Shimbun, AFP, AP, Al-Jazeera, German TV, TV Today Network, New York Times, Le Monde, The Economist, Zee News, Kyodo News, Times of India, The Hindu, National Public Radio (USA), Strategic News, Frontline, The Week and more.
The stringers of foreign media are also at work during the election times, said the Foreign Ministry here.
Some 118 local organisations with their more than 25,000 observers are observing the upcoming election.
Another unit of the Cell started operation at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon while a helpdesk is already in operation at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to welcome and assist the foreign observers/media personnel.
Constant liaison is being maintained between these units among the relevant ministries and especially with the Bangladesh Election Commission for smooth coordination required for the foreign observers/media personnel.
All the Bangladesh Missions have been advised to assist them with visa facilities.
Arrangements have also been made for according visa on arrival to those observers and journalists who would not be in a position to obtain visa from Bangladesh Missions abroad, the MoFA said.
The foreign observers and journalists are being issued accreditation and pass cards to enable them to observe or watch the polling.
In addition to the accreditation, the Election Commission is issuing stickers for vehicles to be used by the foreign observers, media people and those foreign missions in Bangladesh that have requested for registration to observe the election.
Security support, when requested, will also be given to the foreign observers, the MoFA added.