The pre-election environment in Bangladesh has remained fragile, with episodes of political violence and concerns over the neutrality of local officials, according to an assessment by the United States-based organisation, the International Republican Institute.
Sporadic clashes between party supporters, security forces, and suspended political networks have highlighted persistent instability.
IRI conducted a pre-election assessment mission in Bangladesh in October 20-24 ahead of the country’s expected February 2026 parliamentary elections and published the assessment on Wednesday.
It recommended sustained dialogue, transparent election administration, and ‘credible participation by political parties’ as essential measures to mitigate polarisation and strengthen confidence in the transition.
The Election Commission has introduced reforms to enhance participation and operational preparedness, including mechanisms for out-of-country voting, and plans to integrate the armed forces into the election security framework.
Despite these measures, the IRI noted that politically significant episodes of violence, lingering distrust of security forces, and questions over the neutrality of local officials continue to undermine public confidence.
The assessment highlighted the growing influence of youth-led parties and the anticipated high turnout of first-time and diaspora voters, signalling a potential shift in political engagement.
However, challenges remain, including opaque candidate selection processes within parties, underrepresentation of women, and concerns over the growing appeal of extremist and hardline groups, which could threaten Bangladesh’s secular political foundations.
The IRI acknowledged that the Election Commission and the interim government have taken commendable steps to enhance electoral credibility, including the formation of 11 reform commissions and renewed inter-party dialogue.
The July National Charter, a comprehensive framework of 84 proposals addressing nearly all aspects of the country’s democratic architecture, has provided a blueprint for democratic renewal, although disputes over sequencing, referendum timing, and enforcement mechanisms underscore the challenges of building broad-based consensus, it said.