Commonwealth observers term Bangladesh polls acceptable, orderly

Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has described Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election as “acceptable, transparent and orderly.”

“The people of Bangladesh have exercised their democratic rights to seek the fulfilment of their aspirations. We encourage them to be magnanimous and united in their shared democratic future,” said the former President of Ghana.

Akufo-Addo said he felt honoured to chair the Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections and the referendum on the July Charter, describing the vote as a watershed moment in the country’s history.

“The upcoming government of Bangladesh is obliged to implement the July Charter, as they signed it and the result of the referendum has endorsed the Charter,” he told a media briefing.

Delivering the group’s interim statement in Dhaka on Saturday, Akufo-Addo said the delegation’s presence reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s support for the people and government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and its democratic process.

He commended the people of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Election Commission, election officials, law enforcement agencies and the interim government for conducting the parliamentary elections and referendum in a peaceful and orderly manner.

He made the remarks while presenting the group’s interim statement on Thursday’s national election and referendum at a city hotel.

Looking ahead to the next election cycle, he encouraged the Bangladesh Election Commission to conduct a post-election review, including consideration of all observer recommendations, in line with good practice.

He added that the Commonwealth Observer Group will submit its final report to the Commonwealth Secretariat and share it with relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh, including the Election Commission.