<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The Election Exploratory Mission (ExM) from the European Union (EU) today wanted to know from reporters about professional challenges the media might face while covering the next general election in Bangladesh.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The issue of media freedom came up for discussion during interactions with a small group of senior reporters at the EU embassy in Dhaka.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The reporters shared their experiences in covering elections in the past and challenges that journalists in remote areas might face.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the discussion, a reporter wanted to know why Jamaat was invited for discussion considering the European Parliament in a resolution in 2014 urged BNP to “cut ties” with Jamaat and said that political parties associated with “terrorist acts” should be banned.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before the meeting with reporters, the EU delegation members had a separate meeting with four editors at the same venue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The reporters encouraged the delegation to support sending observers regardless of what the next election may look like.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The daily Jugantor Chief of Correspondents and former DCAB President Masud Karim, Channel i special correspondent Pantho Rahman, Jamuna Television special correspondent Mahfuz Mishu, UNB special correspondent AKM Moinuddin and Channel 24 senior reporter Morshed Hassib Hasan were present at the meeting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The visiting delegation began their activities in Bangladesh on July 2 to assess the situation on the ground ahead of the country’s upcoming national election.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Delegation leader Riccardo Chelleri and his team held over 70 meetings so far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The EU delegation will be in Bangladesh till July 23 to assess the situation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A technical team of the mission will further discuss the relevant issues with the Election Commission (EC) on July 18,19.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The main objective of the Election Exploratory Mission is to assess the “advisability, usefulness and feasibility” of a possible EU Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary election, according to the EU Mission in Dhaka. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>