The Commonwealth Election Observation Mission stated that no targeted attacks or repression against minority communities were observed during Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election. The team’s chair, former Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo, made the remarks at a press conference held on Saturday at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka. He said the mission received no direct reports of minorities being attacked during the polls.

However, the observers noted that voter turnout among minority groups appeared lower in some regions, and members of various communities expressed concerns about participation. Akufo-Addo said these observations would be included in the mission’s final report. He described the election as peaceful, orderly, and transparent, calling it credible and acceptable based on their monitoring.

The observers also reported that despite one major political party, the Awami League, not participating, voting rights, candidate registration, and vote counting processes remained open to nearly all candidates, with around 2,000 individuals contesting seats. Akufo-Addo emphasized that transparency and inclusive participation are vital for Bangladesh’s democratic progress.