The Bangladeshis employed in the foreign cannot be international observers in the Dhaka City corporations polls, said Election Commission Secretary Md Alamgir.

In a letter to the foreign diplomatic missions in Dhaka on Friday (Jan 31), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that they cannot include local employees having Bangladeshi nationality in their teams.

Alamgir said that a Bangladeshi employed in a foreign organisation will be considered local observers as per the election codes.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nurul Huda said that for anyone to be considered international observers they would have to be an employee of the foreign missions but not Bangladeshi citizens.

Earlier on Friday (Jan 31), Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that Bangladeshi citizens cannot be foreign observers.

“Unfortunately, the foreign missions here are appointing their Bangladeshi staff as international observers which is a violation of the rules,” he said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday (Jan 30), Awami League’s Advisory Committee member HT Imam said that the observers must follow the rules and not meddle.

The Election Commission has approved 78 employees working in the foreign missions in Bangladesh.