Bangladesh

Overview

NDI has conducted programs in Bangladesh since 1988 to support the participation of civil society, women and youth in the country’s political and electoral processes. In the past, NDI mobilized international observation and assessment missions for the country’s 1991, 1996, 2001, 2008 and 2018 national elections, and assisted local monitoring groups to conduct domestic observation activities for the 2014 parliamentary elections and subsequent upazila (sub-district) polls. NDI has supported the next generation of women leaders, conducted studies to combat violence against women in elections, worked to counter hate speech and narratives affecting the Rohingya community, and facilitated dialogues that brought together senior and next-generation parliamentarians, government leaders, election officials, and civil society representatives on various political reform issues. 

In October 2023, NDI and IRI conducted a pre-election assessment mission (PEAM) and issued a joint statement identifying the challenges, opportunities and recommendations for the implementation of more credible, peaceful and non-violent elections. In the run-up to and after the elections, NDI and IRI are also assessing the pre-election and election day processes, and the impact of perceived or actual violence on the integrity of the election.