The European Union Election Observation Mission has described Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election as competitive, stating that the Election Commission acted independently and impartially. The mission presented its preliminary report at a press conference on Saturday, noting that the election marked a new step in restoring citizens’ voting rights and strengthening democratic practice in the country.

However, the observers raised concerns about the low participation of women, pointing out that only 4 percent of candidates were female, which they said contradicted political commitments to gender inclusion. Chief observer Ivars Ijabs also urged greater efforts to ensure the security and voting rights of minority communities. Despite some election-related conflicts, mission head Tomas Zdechovsky said the overall environment remained peaceful.

The EU team is continuing to monitor the post-election situation and plans to release a full report within two months, including recommendations for future improvements. They expressed hope that the new government would work to protect the rights and safety of all citizens and increase women’s participation in the electoral process.