Commonwealth observers hail Bangladesh election as democratic milestone

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has described Bangladesh's 2026 parliamentary elections and accompanying referendum as a "democratic milestone" while urging further reforms to strengthen and sustain democratic progress.

In its final report, the Group praised the large-scale introduction of postal voting for expatriate voters and individuals in lawful custody, describing the initiative as a significant step towards making the electoral process more inclusive.

The observer mission, led by Nana Akufo-Addo, former president of Ghana, included 12 eminent representatives from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific.

The observers stayed in Bangladesh from 4 to 18 February and assessed the pre-election, election-day and post-election environments. They also met political parties, election officials, civil society representatives, media professionals and other stakeholders to gather evidence-based information on the conduct of the 8 February polls.

The report acknowledged concerns regarding the independence and institutional capacity of the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC), particularly in the aftermath of controversies surrounding the January 2024 elections and the exclusion of certain political parties.

Despite those concerns, the Group concluded that election officials conducted voting, vote counting and results management processes in a professional manner.

The report also reviewed the referendum on the July Charter, which secured 61.64% support. Observers said authorities conducted the referendum peacefully, although they noted that many voters had limited understanding of its content and implications.

The Group identified several challenges related to political inclusion. Women accounted for nearly half of the country's population and benefited from reserved parliamentary seats, yet they represented only about 4% of all candidates. Voters directly elected only seven women to parliament.

The report also highlighted low youth participation despite the fact that voters under the age of 35 constituted roughly 44% of the electorate.

Observers further noted that the media environment during the campaign period appeared more open than in previous election cycles. However, they said legal restrictions and security-related concerns continued to affect press freedom.

The Group urged authorities to build on the gains achieved during the 2026 electoral process and pursue reforms that would strengthen democratic institutions, improve political participation and safeguard fundamental freedoms.