Diplomatic Desk:
Former President of Ghana and Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group Nana Addo Akufo-Addo has said that Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary elections and the July Charter referendum were held in a peaceful, orderly and generally acceptable atmosphere. He made this interim assessment at a press conference held in Dhaka on Saturday (14 February 2026).
He said that the elections were held at a crucial juncture in Bangladesh’s history and the active participation of the people in them is a reflection of the democratic commitment. The Commonwealth Observer Group, as an independent body, observed the entire election process and their final report will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. The group was formed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey and includes 12 experts from different Commonwealth regions.
The Commonwealth Secretariat announced the deployment of the team on January 21 and they arrived in Dhaka on February 4. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s observer team spread out to eight divisions of the country from February 10 to observe the pre-election environment and voting. It is worth noting that the Commonwealth of Nations admitted Bangladesh as a member in 1972 and this is the fourth Commonwealth observer mission to Bangladesh.
Nana Akufo-Addo said that the elections were held in the political context following the July 2024 coup. The July Charter was formulated as part of the political dialogue and reform process under the interim government and a referendum was held on it. Despite the lack of participation of some political parties, the elections were conducted in a competitive environment overall.
While highlighting the significant presence of women voters as a positive aspect, he said that only 4 percent of the total candidates were women and only seven were elected, which indicates the need for more initiatives to increase women’s political participation. At the same time, he called for strengthening the institutional inclusion of the youth in the party structure, even as the political awareness and activism of the youth increased.
Praising the security arrangements, he said that the law enforcement agencies worked in a coordinated manner and ensured the safety of voters and observers. There was a peaceful atmosphere at most polling stations, the polling stations opened on time and the voting process was completed with professionalism. The counting process after the vote was also transparent.
Referring to the opportunity for the participation of expatriates and prisoners through postal voting as an inclusive initiative, he said that it has further broadened the democratic process. However, there will be recommendations to increase transparency and trust in the implementation.
Terming the role of the media as vibrant and active, Nana Akufo-Addo said that the media provided extensive coverage of the elections. However, there are concerns about fake news, hate speech and misleading content on social media. More effective action will be recommended in this regard.
He also said that although some isolated incidents were reported, they did not affect the overall electoral process. He called on all parties to resolve their disputes through legal processes and maintain peaceful conduct.
In conclusion, Nana Akufo-Addo said that the people of Bangladesh have exercised their democratic rights. What is needed now is unity, tolerance and a commitment to build a common democratic future.
