April 29, 2026
DHAKA – The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) today described Bangladesh’s 2026 parliamentary elections as “credible” and “competently managed”, calling them a pivotal step towards restoring democratic governance and the rule of law.
Presenting the mission’s final report at a hotel in Dhaka this morning, Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs said the polls were genuinely competitive for the first time since 2008, with fundamental freedoms broadly respected.
However, the mission noted that “sporadic localised political violence” and a “persistent fear of mob attacks”, often fuelled by manipulated online narratives undermined parts of the democratic process.
It also highlighted limited political space for women, warning that their restricted participation weakened inclusivity.
“This credible electoral process propelled the renewal of democracy,” Ijabs told reporters.
The mission made 19 recommendations, including six priority measures aimed at strengthening the integrity of future elections.
Key proposals include revising the legal framework for parliamentary polls, ensuring transparent vote tabulation at upazila and district levels, and amending the Representation of the People Order to secure 33 percent women’s representation in all internal party committees by 2030.
It also suggested requiring political parties to nominate at least one-third women candidates in national and local elections.
Other priority recommendations include amending the Cyber Security Ordinance to impose binding obligations on social media platforms, strengthening campaign finance rules, and expanding postal voting eligibility.
The report said postal ballots could be extended to homebound voters, persons with disabilities, internally displaced people, migrant workers and students.
The Bangladesh Election Commission was credited with operating independently and transparently, maintaining stakeholder confidence and upholding the integrity of the election.
A peaceful polling day, transparent tabulation process and broad acceptance of the results demonstrated how a credible election could help renew democracy, the report said.
The mission deployed 223 observers.
It noted that the elections were held under a revised legal framework broadly aligned with international standards, with 2025 amendments strengthening inclusion and credibility.
However, the framework remains fragmented and requires further reform to enhance legal certainty, close loopholes and repeal provisions that may unduly restrict freedom of expression.
While the commission took a proactive approach to rebuilding public trust and maintaining dialogue with political parties, the report said newly introduced campaign rules were not consistently enforced, sometimes fuelling perceptions of bias and complaints of an uneven playing field.
Election day preparations were described as professional and timely. Around 770,000 overseas voters cast ballots by post, and more than 850,000 polling staff received training.
Vote counting and tabulation were handled competently, though the report suggested strengthening safeguards during these stages. It also pointed out that slow, largely analogue publication of nationwide results limited public access to timely election data.
The commission handled 645 appeals over candidate nominations, reinstating about two-thirds of initially rejected applicants.
Around 2,000 candidates contested the polls, including 275 independents. Alliances led by BNP and Jamaat were the main contenders among 51 parties, the report said.
Women made up just under four percent of total candidates, Ijabs said.
The mission identified at least 23 cases of disinformation and digital attacks targeting minorities and women activists.
It said partisan influencers and deceptive media accounts, some operating from outside Bangladesh, were the main sources of misleading content on platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.
On campaign finance, the report described existing regulations as “old and ineffective”, calling for stronger verification and oversight mechanisms.
Ijabs also praised what he termed a “revitalised civic space” following the July uprising, noting that grassroots initiatives played a role in restoring public trust in the electoral process.