Which city hosted the fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF IV)?

Introduction / Context:
The Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum, often abbreviated as AESF, is a gathering of election management bodies, civil society organisations, and experts who discuss ways to improve election transparency and democratic practices in Asia. The fourth edition, AESF IV, took place in a specific city and was widely reported in regional current affairs. This question checks whether you remember which city hosted that forum, an item commonly included in international and regional organisations sections in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event is the fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum, or AESF IV.
• The question asks for the host city of this edition.
• Options include Hyderabad, Colombo, Dhaka, and None of the above.
• We assume basic awareness of South Asian political and electoral events.

Concept / Approach:
The key fact is that AESF IV was hosted in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. The event focused on electoral transparency and integrity and was organised with support from the Sri Lankan Election Commission and regional partners. Hyderabad and Dhaka are important South Asian cities but were not the venue for this particular forum. The approach is to recall current affairs about regional electoral cooperation and link AESF IV with Colombo, which hosted the event for the first time in South Asia.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the event as the fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF IV). Step 2: Recall from current affairs that AESF IV was held in Sri Lanka. Step 3: Connect Sri Lanka with its capital city, Colombo. Step 4: Scan the options and find Colombo listed as option B. Step 5: Note that Hyderabad is in India and Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, but neither was the host of AESF IV. Step 6: Since a correct option is present, None of the above cannot be right. Step 7: Conclude that the correct answer is Colombo.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by remembering that news reports about AESF IV highlighted it as the first time the forum was held in South Asia, specifically mentioning Colombo, Sri Lanka. These reports also quoted the Sri Lankan Election Commission and regional election observers discussing best practices. Such details tie the event clearly to Colombo rather than to any Indian or Bangladeshi city, reinforcing your answer. Reviewing current affairs compilations from the period when AESF IV took place would confirm this information.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Hyderabad: This Indian city is known for technology and conferences but was not the host of AESF IV.
Dhaka: As the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka hosts many regional events but was not the venue for the fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum.
None of the above: Since Colombo is correctly listed and matches the known host city, choosing None of the above would be incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is confusing different international forums and assuming that any major South Asian city might have hosted the event. Some candidates may guess Hyderabad because India often hosts regional meetings. Others might select Dhaka just because it is a capital city. To avoid such mistakes, pay attention to the specific details, such as which country election commission was highlighted in news reports, and link that information to the correct capital city. For AESF IV, that country was Sri Lanka, and the city was Colombo.

Final Answer:
The fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF IV) was hosted in Colombo.