A delegation of the United States-funded International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) will visit Bangladesh October 7-13 to conduct a joint pre-election assessment mission (PEAM) in accordance with the NDI’s Declaration of Principles for International Observers.

The delegation will visit Bangladesh October 7-13 and will include six delegates plus support staff, US Embassy Spokesperson Bryan Schiller told reporters on Thursday. It will meet the Bangladesh Election Commission, government agencies, political parties, citizen observers, civil society organizations including women’s and youth groups, Bangladesh and international media organizations, and foreign diplomatic missions, he said. At the conclusion of its visit, the delegation will issue a public statement highlighting positive trends as well as areas of concern and offering practical recommendations.

The team is likely to hold a series of briefings and consultations with relevant international stakeholders, policymakers in Washington, D.C., and constituencies supporting electoral integrity in Bangladesh, said the Spokesperson.

While the primary role of the PEAM is to provide independent and impartial information on election preparation and the electoral context, it will also determine whether to send a limited international election observation mission for election day, he said.