The International Republican Institute (IRI) has described Bangladesh’s February 12 parliamentary elections as a significant milestone in the country’s democratic transition.
Former United States Congressman David Dreier, who led the IRI delegation as an election observer, praised the conduct of the polls.
“Security forces and the Election Commission performed admirably. After years of authoritarian rule, Election Day was mostly peaceful and incident-free. Given the historical context, that is a big step forward for Bangladesh,” Dreier said.
IRI deployed a high-level delegation of international observers to Dhaka from February 9 to 13 to assess the conduct of the 2026 parliamentary elections, according to a statement issued today.
In its preliminary findings, the delegation described the polls as “an inflection point” as Bangladesh navigates a complex democratic transition following the July 2024 uprising that ended more than 15 years of rule by the Awami League.
“Now that the election is over, the hard work of governing lies ahead and the enthusiasm of the Bangladeshi people needs to be translated into action,” Dreier added.
While noting that election administration was technically sound, the delegation said the broader political environment remains fragile and encouraged candidates to resolve post-election disputes through legal channels.
According to the preliminary report, the pre-election period was relatively peaceful compared to previous electoral cycles, although clashes involving rival party supporters occurred in multiple districts. Voter turnout reached 59 per cent, a significant increase from the previous parliamentary election, with strong participation from first-time voters, particularly those under 35.
However, concerns persist over the historical undercounting of women on voter rolls and the significant under-representation of women and ethnic and religious minorities among candidates.
The Election Commission was commended for logistical preparedness and professional execution of what was described as a complex national operation. Operational transparency was seen as notable progress compared to earlier election cycles.
Reforms such as the introduction of postal voting for Bangladeshis abroad, the establishment of accreditation criteria for citizen observers, and a nationwide voter education campaign were cited as measures that enhanced transparency and credibility.
Strong participation by party polling agents, citizen observers and international monitors contributed to transparency at many polling stations. The report said no widespread or systematic targeting of minority communities was observed on Election Day.
Voting generally began on time, essential materials were available, and presiding officers were described as professional. Polling stations closed on schedule, and counting and tabulation were considered transparent and efficient.
The election was conducted under heightened security, with police, army units, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, Ansar and village defence forces deployed nationwide. Authorities designated thousands of polling centres as “high risk” and implemented layered security measures, which appeared to contain isolated incidents and prevent escalation.
IRI, which has led or supported more than 270 election observation missions globally, said it will continue monitoring the post-election process and will publish a comprehensive final report with detailed analysis and recommendations.
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