UNDP hands over IT equipment to strengthen election training

As part of its ongoing assistance to the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) gave 30 desktop computers to the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) on February 26, 2026, strengthening institutional capacity for electoral education and knowledge management in Bangladesh.

The transition, which took place at BEC’s office in Dhaka, signifies a strategic change in UNDP’s involvement from assisting with election delivery to bolstering institutional resilience beyond the election. It comes after Bangladesh’s 13th Parliamentary Elections were successfully conducted on February 12, 2026, highlighting the BEC’s operational leadership and professionalism. The Democratic Reforms through Inclusive Participation (DRIP) and BALLOT programs provided ongoing technical assistance that resulted in improved institutional capacity, which were reflected in the calm elections.

Consolidating victories, documenting lessons learned, and getting ready for future local elections become the main priorities as Bangladesh moves into the post-election phase. In this endeavor, ETI acts as the focal point for strengthening the Bangladesh Election Commission’s capabilities.

In order to enable ongoing, institutionalized learning throughout the electoral cycle, the new IT equipment will assist in modernizing ETI’s training systems, enabling digital learning, simulation-based training, and improved data management.

Attending as the chief guest, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, Election Commissioner of Bangladesh noted, “Today’s handover marks an important milestone in strengthening our post-election capacity. It shows that when national institutions and international partners work together with mutual respect and shared goals, meaningful progress is not only possible, but also sustainable.”

Additionally present as a special guest was Stefan Liller, the resident representative for UNDP Bangladesh. “UNDP stands ready to continue supporting the Bangladesh Election Commission, building on recent achievements to strengthen the institution and preparing for what comes next, including the upcoming local elections,” he emphasized.

Along with many others, K M Ali Newaz, Additional Secretary, Election Commission Secretariat, Sonali Dayaratne, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, and Andres Castillo, Chief Technical Adviser, UN Electoral Assistance, DRIP, and BALLOT, attended the handover ceremony, which was presided over by Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, Director General, Electoral Training Institute.

The support is expected to enhance ETI’s capacity to deliver standardized, scalable, and digitally enabled training programmes, ultimately improving the preparedness and performance of election officials. It will also contribute to long-term institutional resilience by ensuring that electoral knowledge and best practices are systematically documented and applied.

Important development partners, such as the governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, support UNDP’s electoral assistance in Bangladesh.

UNDP’s dedication to long-term democratic governance in Bangladesh is reaffirmed by this most recent handover, which supports institutions to not only hold credible elections but also to maintain and improve them over time.