No Proof of Rigging in national election

No evidence of electoral “engineering” or manipulation was found in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, the head of the European Union’s election observation team, Ivars Ijabs said.

However, he noted that if any political party has allegations, they are free to pursue them through legal channels.

According to the European Union Election Observation Mission, the election did not show signs of irregularities. Alongside this assessment, the mission issued 19 recommendations aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s electoral system, with six identified as priority actions.

These findings were presented on Tuesday (April 28) at a programme held at a hotel in the capital, where the mission released its final report on the 13th national parliamentary election.

Responding to questions about possible election manipulation, Ivars Ijabs reiterated that their observers did not find any proof of tampering.

At the same time, he emphasized that any political party raising concerns should address them through proper legal procedures. He also expressed hope that commitments made by political parties-both domestically and internationally-regarding participation in elections would be reflected more clearly in the future.

Ijabs further remarked that this was the most credible election since 2008, suggesting that public confidence in the Election Commission is gradually being restored. He added that this renewed trust could contribute to improved governance in the country.

He also highlighted that security arrangements during the election were adequate, and there were no complaints of a lack of transparency in either the preliminary or final results. Candidates were able to campaign freely and transparently, and there was room for dialogue if political tensions arose.

Any complaints or disputes that emerged during the election period were reportedly addressed quickly and in a credible manner.

However, he pointed out that more work is needed to ensure financial transparency in election spending.
The EU observation mission has been active in Bangladesh since late last year. On election day,

February 12, a total of 223 international observers-from EU member states as well as Canada, Norway, and Switzerland-were deployed across all 64 districts of the country.

Earlier, on February 14, the mission had released its preliminary observation report on the parliamentary election.