The Asian Network for Free Elections, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Election Commission, organized a one-day regional experience-sharing exchange on emerging electoral challenges and oversight, Dhaka, 23 November 2025.

“Building Bridges: Regional Electoral Governance and Citizen Observation Exchange” gathered regional experts from election management bodies, civil society organizations, and election observer groups to share experiences, insights and lessons in navigating challenges and enhancing institutional capacity towards ensuring electoral integrity.

The event hosted three thematic sessions on 1) social media, disinformation and platform accountability in elections, 2) artificial intelligence, deepfakes and emerging digital threats in elections, and 3) citizen observation and election oversight.

Bangladesh Election Commissioner Big. Gen. Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah (Retd.), in his opening remarks, acknowledged the importance of the public trust in the electoral process. He enjoined his colleagues from the the BEC who were among the participants to take advantage of the experience sharing opportunity and bring the lessons learned in the work towards preparing for the upcoming elections.

Bangladesh is expected to hold its 13th Parliamentary Elections in February 2026 following the July Uprising that have placed the country under democratic transition after years of restrictive civic environment.

In Session 1 on social media, disinformation and platform accountability in elections, Commission of Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Nelson J. Celis shared the experience of the Philippines in addressing disinformation leveraging the voluntary commitment of tech companies in collaborating with election management bodies to address disinformation campaigns during elections. Commissioner Celis is the commissioner-in-charge of the Task Force Against Election Disinformation at COMELEC.

Legal Network for Free Elections (LENTE) Executive Director Atty. Rona Ann Caritos, meanwhile, said electoral disinformation has evolved in the Philippines. She highlighted the importance of the transparency approach in addressing disinformation over robust content regilation and the key role of EMB-CSO collaboration and partnerships with tech companies in finding pathways in strengthening election information integrity.

In Session 2 on artificial intelligence, deepfakes and emerging digital threats in elections, MAFINDO Chairperson Septiaji Eko Nugroho said the use of artificial intelligence in producing deepfakes poses a challenge during elections. While there are some tools that can be used to identify AI-generated deepfakes, these tools remain fragmented and suffer from consistency. He shared multilayered approaches in addressing disinformation, including fact-checking initiatives, prebunking, capacity building, increasing media and information literacy and awareness, and regional collaboration among different stakeholders. He said as much as AI can be misused and abused in producing malign synthetic content, AI could also be used to aid in fighting disinformation through detection and information dissemination.

Association of World Election Management Bodies (A-WEB) Assistant Secretary General Dr. Seung Kim shared the approaches of several EMBs in addressing deepfakes and disinformation during elections.
-Peru implemented a multilayered coordination with various agencies

• South Africa provided a reporting mechanism to EMBs and the media for
• Taiwan formed a dedicated task force that actively debunked election-related disinformation and penalized disinformation peddlers
• The Philippines also had a dedicated task force, required the registration of online campaign platforms of candidates, and had direct coordination with social media platforms
• South Korea has strict laws on AI-based slander and falsehoods but at the same time provided media literacy efforts

Dr. Kim said overall media and information literacy is necessary in addressing disinformation among other approaches. He said quick response monitoring teams and partnerships with tech companies are necessary as election information integrity issues require cooperation and coalition building among different electoral stakeholders.

In Session 3 citizen observation and election oversight, Election Commission of Sri Lanka Additional Commissioner BPC Kularatne shared the Sri Lankan model of partnership in collaborating with CSOs for effective election management particularly in ensuring a level playing field, electoral participation and engagement and transparency and oversight.

People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchie also shared PAFFREL’s experience in collaborating with election observer groups, political parties and the election management body in election dispute resolution. PAFFREL has also launched advocacy efforts on establishing peace committees to safeguard polling stations, voter education and stakeholder consultations.

In the fourth session, the Bangladesh Election Commission reflected on the lessons learned from the event and shared plans for the upcoming elections. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said the commission is committed to free, fair and credible elections. He said that he is confident that whatever challenges come ahead, BEC will be able to deliver on their commitment to the nation.

The chief election commissioner recognized that they have a tough fight to put up and that the event helped in finding ways to deal with the challenges ahead. He hoped that they would be fully prepared for these challenges by the time of the elections.

On election observation, he said the BEC wants a transparent election and that election observers and the media would play a key role in monitoring the electoral process.

The event follows the ongoing engagement of ANFREL in Bangladesh reflecting the organization’s long-standing mission to strengthen democratic processes by facilitating peer learning and fostering collaborative approaches to electoral management.