Bangladeshis voted enthusiastically and in large numbers in Dec. 29 parliamentary elections that were well-administered and conducted in an orderly fashion, according to the findings of an international observer delegation fielded by the National Democratic Institute.
The delegation noted several circumstances that contributed to the credibility and efficiency of the process. These included a series of reforms instituted by the Election Commission that produced the most accurate voter list in the country’s history, generally well-trained election officials, secret ballots, and generally collegial interactions on election day between the two major political parties.
The NDI delegation was co-led by Howard B. Schaffer, former U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh, and Audrey McLaughlin, former member of parliament and former leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. The delegation leadership also included Larry Garber, former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission director for West Bank/Gaza, and Peter Manikas, senior associate and director for Asia programs at NDI. The delegation’s findings were informed by an NDI pre-election assessment mission and by a team of 20 NDI long-term observers who had been working in the country since Nov. 20. On election day, 60 accredited NDI monitors observed voting and counting at more than 185 polling centers and 270 polling booths throughout Bangladesh.
Learn More: Read the final statement of the NDI observer delegation | Read the statement »
Pictured above: Sanshad Bhaban, the seat of the parliament of Bangladesh.
