The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has described Bangladesh’s 2026 parliamentary election as “acceptable” and efficiently administered, calling it an important step toward restoring democratic governance and the rule of law.
Presenting the mission’s preliminary findings at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka on Saturday, Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs said the polls were genuinely competitive for the first time since 2008 and conducted under a new legal framework broadly aligned with international standards.
“Fundamental freedoms were largely respected, and the legal framework provided a sound basis for democratic elections,” Ijabs said.
He noted, however, that sporadic local political violence—often fueled by manipulated online narratives—had negatively affected the democratic process.
The mission commended the Election Commission (EC) for working independently and transparently, maintaining stakeholders’ confidence and safeguarding the integrity of the process.
According to the preliminary assessment, the amended electoral legal framework, including the 2025 revisions, strengthened inclusiveness and credibility. Nevertheless, the EU mission recommended further reforms to enhance legal certainty and close loopholes that could undermine institutional accountability and transparency.
Ijabs said the newly appointed EC had taken a proactive approach to rebuilding public trust. He also acknowledged support from the interim government and other stakeholders, noting that the commission responded promptly to media queries, shared public-interest information, and maintained dialogue with political parties.
Despite these positive assessments, the mission expressed concern over the marginal participation of women candidates.
“Unfortunately, women were largely absent from this election,” Ijabs said. Only 4% of the total candidates were women. The BNP fielded 10 female candidates and the NCP two, while Jamaat-e-Islami and 30 other parties nominated none.
The chief observer said this reflected a lack of political will to advance women in national politics, despite commitments made in the July Charter. He also cited structural barriers including patriarchy, discrimination, and instances of digital and physical harassment.
The EU mission further noted that indigenous communities and religious minorities expressed disappointment over the absence of special measures to ensure their political representation.
Observers also raised concerns about growing religious undertones in public discourse, including online spaces, and reported a tangible fear of physical violence.
While acknowledging a spike in scattered political violence in early February, the mission said the incidents remained localized and showed no systematic pattern.
The EU EOM documented around 56 incidents of physical violence across 27 districts, resulting in at least 200 casualties. The interim government also reported five deaths linked to political activities since the election announcement.
The EU observers will remain in Bangladesh to continue monitoring post-election developments and are expected to publish a final report with detailed recommendations in the coming months.
