<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b><font color="#085294">Around 180 foreign observers from 35 countries have applied to the Election Commission to observe the next national election scheduled for January 7, 2024.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday, Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin said their applications are being scrutinized.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, around 30 officials from various countries will come and observe the polls, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sabrin said journalists from international media outlets have also applied to the Election Commission to cover the polls.</div><div><br></div><div>"The Election Commission is scrutinising through their due process. Once the process is done, their accreditation process will start," she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of the journalists have been informed through email that they can apply for visa now, Sabrin said.</div><div><br></div><div>The MoFA Spokesperson said a media cell is also working to that end.</div><div><br></div><div>She said issues related to budget for managing the international observers are under consideration.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said they want to see a "free, fair, non-violent and transparent" election and achieve the goal to build a "Smart Bangladesh" ensuring peace and stability, according to unb reports</div><div><br></div><div>"We want all from the entire world to come and see, and learn from us," he said on December 27, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>