The United Kingdom has expressed its willingness to assist Bangladesh in ensuring the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections are held in a peaceful, free, and fair manner.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka on Monday, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke said her country was prepared to extend support in multiple areas, including the training of polling staff and voter education initiatives.

The meeting, which lasted an hour, comes as the Election Commission accelerates preparations for the polls, scheduled for the first half of February. 

As part of its planning, the commission has been holding discussions with envoys from various countries.

SMS/