The parliamentary elections in Bangladesh were held in a peaceful manner and aligned with national legal standards, according to Pavel Andreev, a member of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) who visited the republic as an international observer.
Reflecting on the mission's scope, Andreev noted that "observers from the Russian CEC visited over 40 polling stations in Dhaka and the Narayanganj District during the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, and were present for every stage of the process — from the opening of the polls to the start of the vote count."
"We observed a high level of preparedness within the electoral system for conducting these concurrent parliamentary elections, alongside a clear public interest in participating," Andreev stated. "At every station we visited, we saw a well-refined protocol followed by commission members, which met the requirements of national legislation and the country's election commission. The chairpersons were well-trained and organized the work effectively, maintaining a friendly and constructive atmosphere throughout."
The Russian representative paid particular attention to the public's engagement with the process. "For many, based on their comments, this was a truly long-awaited event following the government's ouster in July 2024," Andreev pointed out. "Some even brought their children to the polling stations. Political disagreements and rivalries were expressed solely through ballot markings; the general atmosphere remained peaceful and, at times, even celebratory."
He also addressed the technical aspects of the election, including the use of new methods. "The preparations for the vote count at the center where we were stationed were precise, conducted in the presence of political party observers and under video surveillance," he emphasized. "We also closely examined the organization of postal voting, which was introduced for citizens abroad for the first time. The turnout for postal ballots was impressive, reaching approximately 75% according to the data provided to us. However, we maintain our stance that postal voting is a vulnerable method of expressing one's will, and we do not utilize it in Russia."
In his concluding remarks, Andreev summarized that "the most significant achievement of the election organizers was ensuring the vote took place in a calm and secure environment, fully compliant with the law. Isolated incidents did not overshadow the overall process or impact its course. While the count is ongoing and much can still happen, the organizers have, for now, met their objectives." He added that the Russian side has invited their Bangladeshi counterparts to learn more about Russian electoral practices through the international observation program at the upcoming State Duma elections.
Background on the Elections
The 13th parliamentary elections were held on February 12, 2026, marking the first national vote since the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party in August 2024 following widespread protests. For the past 18 months, the country has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
According to preliminary data and unofficial counts, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has secured a sweeping majority. The Election Commission is expected to release final official results later today.
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Photo: K M Asas/World Bank/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS