Dhaka, Bangladesh—Nana Akufo-Addo, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group, stated that the latest parliamentary elections held in Bangladesh demonstrate a “resounding” stamp of approval on its democratic aspirations and also convey a tremendous message to the globe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia about Bangladesh’s dedication to building an inclusive, vibrant democracy.
After observing voting at several key polling sites throughout Dhaka, Akufo-Addo shared his perspective on how election observers view this as a crucial reference point for the international community’s increasing interest in understanding the changing political landscape of Bangladesh.
An Important Election in a Region That Has Been Considered to Be Under Review
The entire world has displayed interest in this election, as it offers clarity about whether or not democratic processes are functioning accurately in one of the most populous nations in South Asia. Nearly 13 crore (130 million) people registered to vote, and there are over 2,000 candidates across the nation.
The Commonwealth Observer Group, made up of international experts, stated, “The elections and referenda were observed to be open, free, and fair; however, there are many opportunities to create more inclusion, accessibility, and political offerings, including within the context of women’s and persons with disabilities’ participation.”
According to Akufo-Addo, the manner in which the election was conducted provides several important lessons for other democratic countries in the region, especially those whose electoral integrity has been called into question through allegations of bias and lack of political freedoms over the past several years.
The Newness of the Election: More than Just Balloting
The elections also have a unique character that comes from their context as well as their size. The journey to democracy in Bangladesh has included much debate and controversy surrounding the independence of the electoral bodies from government control, how much participation should be permitted by the major political parties, and whether or not the overall political conditions in Bangladesh will be conducive to producing a democracy. Both supporters and detractors of the electoral process will agree that this election, independently monitored by both the Commonwealth and European Union missions, marks an opportunity to reset the country’s movement toward democracy.
The Commonwealth sent a message that transcended all borders when it commended the peaceful nature of the polling and called upon all participants to cooperate positively in contributing to a successful and constructive process following the election. In doing so, the Commonwealth reaffirmed that when people have the opportunity to cast their vote without hindrance, then those nations enhance their credentials as legitimate sovereign states.
“We encourage political participants in future, to: continue to be generous, united and proceed with a positive mindset,” President Akufo-Addo from Ghana stated. “The citizens of Bangladesh have exercised their democratic rights in order to fulfil their hope and dreams.”
Looking Forward: Future Improvements and Challenges
During the observation process, the observers were able to see both the benefits of the electoral process and also identified effective ways to improve problems that still need to be solved. One such problem that was found during this election is that women are still underrepresented even though there have been slight increases in their number of candidates. Additionally, another issue identified was the lack of access to voting for individuals with disabilities, along with concerns about false information being disseminated online regarding voting and the election in Bangladesh.
Examples of recommendations will be included in the final report to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth as part of the work between the Election Commission of Bangladesh, political parties, and civil society to improve future elections.
Global Repercussions of a National Choice
Akufo-Addo’s remarks have immense meaning to those in power across Asia. After growing out of a terrible war of liberation in 1971 and suffering through many difficult years of instability, Bangladesh looks now to affirm its dedication to democratic ideals.
There is an overwhelming reason to believe that Bangladesh’s recent election was an important message to the world about the country’s intention to adhere to the principles of democracy. Many individuals and organizations will use the information provided in this election as a data point for future governmental decision-making over the next few years, since these elections are representative of how people will govern Bangladesh going forward.
