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

In its final report, the Group highlighted the large-scale introduction of postal voting for diaspora voters and individuals in lawful custody, an initiative commended as an important step towards strengthening the inclusiveness of the electoral process.

The Group, led by H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of the Republic of Ghana, comprised 12 other eminent persons from across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific.

Observers were in Bangladesh from 4-18 February to assess the pre-election, election-day and post-election processes, and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to gather comprehensive and evidence-based information on the conduct of the 8 February electoral process.

While acknowledging earlier concerns about the independence and capacity of the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC), partly stemming from controversies surrounding the January 2024 elections and the barring of political parties, the Group assessed that the voting, counting, and results management processes were conducted professionally.

According to the final report, the referendum on the July Charter, which passed with 61.64 per cent support, was also conducted peacefully, although it noted that public awareness of the referendum's substance was limited.

The elections highlighted important issues related to inclusion. Despite women making up about half the population and having reserved seats, they were only around four per cent of candidates, with just seven directly elected. Youth participation was also low, even though voters under 35 made up roughly 44 per cent of the electorate.

The Group further noted that while the media environment during the campaign was more open than in previous election cycles, legal restrictions and security concerns continue to affect press freedom.

Among numerous other recommendations directed at relevant stakeholders, the Group further recommended strengthening the institutional independence and operational capacity of the BEC to enhance public confidence in electoral administration and strengthening institutions to secure the rule of law.

Releasing the final report, Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey said:

"The 2026 elections and referendum in Bangladesh demonstrate citizens' commitment to exercising their democratic rights, and we welcome the peaceful manner in which they were conducted.

"The recommendations in this report are offered with the objective of further strengthening democratic institutions and electoral processes as Bangladesh creates the conditions for an inclusive and united country responsive to the aspirations of all its people. In this regard, we encourage the authorities to engage all stakeholders in the development of inclusive, just and trusted mechanisms to address the issues identified. As always, the Commonwealth stands ready to support these efforts."

The Commonwealth Observer Group's report has been shared with the Bangladesh government, BEC, political parties, and other relevant stakeholders.

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