Dhaka, Dec. 16 -- The European Union (EU) has decided to deploy an Election Observation Mission to monitor the Feb 12 parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.

The move comes in response to a formal invitation from the interim government, a media statement from the EU said on Tuesday.

The EU High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas made the decision, according to the statement.

Ivars Ijabs, member of the European Parliament, has been appointed chief observer for the mission, it added.

"I am honoured to lead this EU Election Observation Mission to Bangladesh, which will deliver an independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process," Ijabs was quoted as saying.

"This mission is a tangible example of the EU support to ...