EU mission calls for Bangladesh electoral reforms
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has called for comprehensive legal and institutional reforms to strengthen the future of democracy in Bangladesh.
Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, who returned to Dhaka to present the mission’s final report, described the recent elections as a “pivotal step” towards restoring democratic governance.
However, he stressed that significant reforms are still required to address systemic shortcomings in the electoral process.
He made the remarks during the presentation of the report at a city hotel on Tuesday.
Based on an extensive observation exercise involving 223 observers who held more than 1,000 meetings across all 64 districts, the mission concluded that the 2026 elections were “credible and competently managed”.
It noted that this was the first time since 2008 that Bangladesh had experienced genuinely competitive elections with broadly respected fundamental freedoms.
Nevertheless, the mission said this progress must be supported by a stronger legal framework to ensure long-term stability and public confidence.
A key focus of the report is the need to improve women’s participation in politics.
While women played an important role in the July 2024 uprising, the mission observed that their representation as candidates and leaders remains “minimal”.
It noted that women accounted for less than 4 per cent of total candidates in the 2026 elections, which it said reflected a lack of political commitment to gender equality.
To address this, the EU EOM has recommended amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), including stricter monitoring to ensure political parties meet the existing target of 33 per cent female membership in internal committees by 2030.
It also suggested that authorities consider introducing mandatory requirements for parties to nominate at least one-third women candidates in both national and local elections.
The Chief Observer also highlighted instances of online and offline violence targeting female activists and candidates during the campaign, saying such hostility further restricts women’s participation in politics.
Ijabs further described current campaign financing regulations as “outdated and ineffective”.
While spending limits exist in law, the mission found that oversight mechanisms are weak and compliance is rarely verified, allowing wealthier candidates to gain an unfair advantage.
The EU EOM has called for a comprehensive overhaul of campaign finance rules, recommending that candidates and parties submit audited expenditure reports in a standardised format.
It also proposed that the Election Commission conduct systematic checks and ensure timely public disclosure to enhance transparency.
The report also highlighted a “fierce” digital contest for youth engagement during the election period.
The mission’s social media monitoring unit tracked nearly 1,200 accounts on platforms including Facebook and TikTok, identifying at least 23 major disinformation incidents, including attempts to delegitimise the election and target minority communities.
To counter this, the mission recommended amendments to the Cyber Security Ordinance to impose binding obligations on social media platforms, including cooperation protocols during elections, algorithmic transparency, and regular reporting on content moderation.
Ijabs noted that while fact-checkers and civil society groups made “innovative” efforts to counter misinformation, global social media companies were often slow to respond to local reports of harm.
The mission also raised concerns over harassment faced by journalists, both online and offline, although it acknowledged that private media outlets generally provided balanced coverage.
It said such incidents, along with structural challenges, continue to limit freedom of expression.
The Election Commission was praised for its independence and transparency throughout the electoral process.
The mission particularly commended the postal ballot system, which enabled approximately 770,000 overseas citizens to vote, describing it as a “very commendable” step towards universal suffrage.
The EU EOM recommended expanding postal voting to include other groups unable to vote in person, such as persons with disabilities, homebound citizens, migrant workers and students. It also suggested introducing early voting arrangements to improve accessibility.
On result tabulation, the mission praised transparency at the local level but criticised the “slow and analog nature” of national result publication.
It recommended that future elections feature real-time digital display of results at counting centres and prompt online publication to maintain public trust.
Responding to allegations of “election engineering” in some constituencies, Ijabs said the mission had not observed any irregularities that would invalidate the results.
He added that clear legal mechanisms exist for challenging outcomes and urged dissatisfied parties to seek redress through the courts.
He emphasised that responsibility now lies with the newly elected parliament.
“Being elected does not mean only your right to take decisions; it also involves a huge responsibility,” he said, referring to public expectations following the 2024 uprising.
The European Union has expressed readiness to support Bangladesh in implementing the mission’s 19 recommendations aimed at strengthening the rule of law and improving the integrity of future elections.
