Staff Correspondent:
On the occasion of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum-2026 in Bangladesh, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) today (February 12, 2026) exchanged views with journalists on the election situation and overall environment.
The mission informed that this is a historic and important election for Bangladesh and more than 200 European Union observers are working in different parts of the country to observe this process. They are spread across the country and are observing the voting, the environment of polling stations, voter turnout and the overall situation.
The representative of the EU Election Observation Mission said that they are working in a completely neutral position and are not participating in any political process. Their only responsibility is to observe the election. He said that the mission will publish a preliminary report on February 14 (Saturday), which will highlight the overall picture of the election management.
He said, “We are receiving regular information online from our observers across the country. A credible observation report will be prepared after collecting this information.”
Based on the information received till noon, he said, positive enthusiasm and participation among voters have been observed. He expressed hope that the voting process will remain peaceful and participatory till the afternoon.
The observation team said that they are closely monitoring the process of opening polling stations, voter turnout and voting activities. It was also mentioned that they are currently visiting a polling station at Dhaka University. The representative personally praised the environment of the university campus and said that it was a nice experience for him. However, he clarified that this is just one center; many more centers will be visited across the country.
Regarding the results, he said that it is not appropriate to comment on this as the voting is still ongoing. Commenting on any process in advance can be tantamount to political involvement—which they are maintaining neutrality to avoid.
He also said, “This is an important opportunity for the people of Bangladesh—where they are able to exercise their right to vote in free, participatory and competitive elections.”
The mission has invited journalists to be present at the presentation of the initial report on February 14 at 12 noon. It was informed that various questions related to the election will also be answered on that day.
The EU Election Observation Mission’s exchange of views is believed to have further strengthened the importance of international observation in the election process and efforts to ensure transparency.
