Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega has been named in the 10-man Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) to observe the Bangladesh general elections slated for January 7, 2024.
The CET is to be headed by the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon Bruce Golding.
The team was named by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, following an invitation from the Bangladesh Election Commission.
Other members of the CET include The full composition of the Commonwealth Expert Team includes Dr Samuel Azu’u Fonkam, former Chairman, Elections Cameroon, Mr Sabyasachi Banerjee, Advocate and Special Public Prosecutor, Calcutta High Court, India, Ms Pauline Njoroge, digital media specialist, Kenya, Mr Jeffrey Salim Waheed, former Deputy Foreign Minister, Maldives, Ms Hennah Joku, media specialist, Papua New Guinea, Prof Dinesha Samararatne, Professor, Department of Public & International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and Member of Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka, Ms Terry Dale Ince, gender and human rights advocate, organizational development consultant and Founder of CEDAW Committee of Trinidad and Tobago and Mr Mark Stephens, Partner, Howard Kennedy LLP and Member of Commonwealth Lawyers Association, United Kingdom.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General of Scotland stressed the importance of fostering peaceful and credible elections.
She therefore said that the deployment is part of the efforts to support the democratic process in member states.
She said: “The Commonwealth’s commitment to fostering peaceful, fair and credible elections is unwavering. Impartial and independent election observers provide valuable recommendations to improve the election process and strengthen the democratic processes.
“The team’s deployment demonstrates the Commonwealth’s continued commitment to supporting electoral democracy in our 56 member countries and safeguarding the rights of the people of Bangladesh as they take part in these pivotal elections.”
She also expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Golding, who will chair the CET, and to each of the eminent experts, drawn from across the Commonwealth, who will participate in this important assignment.
The expert team will consider all aspects of the election process and provide their observations on whether the elections are conducted in line with the democratic standards to which Bangladesh has committed itself. The CET will also be supported by staff members from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Chairman of the CET, said: “It is my honour and privilege to have been asked to lead this team and to once again, serve the Commonwealth. I am pleased to be collaborating with this expert team which, as is customary, includes experts from diverse backgrounds, countries and professions. In conducting our duties in Bangladesh, we pledge to remain objective, transparent and independent.”
While in Bangladesh, according to the itinerary of the CET will meet various stakeholders, including political parties, police, civil society groups, citizen observers and monitor groups, as well as representatives from the media.
From 6 January, the team is expected to deploy in small groups around the country to observe electoral preparations in their respective areas.
On Election Day, the team will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and results management processes.
