SS Report
Dhaka, 4 December 2025:
The United Nations on Thursday convened representatives of all registered political parties at its Dhaka office to provide a comprehensive briefing on its ongoing technical assistance to the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary elections.
During the session, UN officials outlined the major components of their electoral assistance program, followed by an open question-and-answer segment with party representatives. The briefing focused on the UN’s support through the BALLOT Project, an initiative launched in May 2025 at the request of the Election Commission.
According to the UN, BALLOT aims to strengthen the BEC’s operational readiness by enhancing staff training, improving voter and civic education, supplying essential election materials, and bolstering inclusivity and information integrity during the electoral process. Officials emphasized that all assistance is firmly grounded in key UN principles, including respect for national sovereignty, political neutrality, human rights, and institutional independence.
Since its launch, the BALLOT Project has contributed to a significant expansion of the voter roll. Nearly 8 million new voters have been added to the existing 120 million registered voters, including 3.8 million men and more than 4 million women—a development the UN says underscores its commitment to broader participation and gender inclusion.
Political party delegates engaged UN officials on issues ranging from logistical preparedness to measures for ensuring transparency. The UN team reaffirmed its commitment to supporting a credible, inclusive, and peaceful electoral process led by Bangladesh’s own institutions.
The briefing marks one of the UN’s most extensive outreach efforts to political stakeholders ahead of the poll, as preparations intensify for what is expected to be one of the most closely watched elections in the country’s recent history.
Source: UNDP
