Dhaka, Jan. 26 -- More than 55,000 domestic observers will be deployed to monitor the 13th parliamentary election and the accompanying referendum, the Election Commission (EC) has revealed.

According to the commission, a total of 55,454 observers from 81 registered domestic organisations will be involved.

Md Ashadul Haque, assistant director of the EC's Public Relations Department, said on Monday that 7,997 observers would be deployed centrally, while 47,457 would work at the local level.

The announcement came a day after the EC briefed diplomats on preparations for the election.

At that briefing, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said 51 political parties were contesting the election, with a total of 1,994 candidates. Of ...