An International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) joint delegation has said the upcoming national election in Bangladesh is a litmus test for democracy in the country.  “We feel the primary problem is lack of constructive engagement among key political actors,” said Karl F. Inderfurth (NDI Co-Chair) in a statement published today (October 15, 2023).  “The best way to end the stalemate is through good faith dialogue, in the run-up to the January 2024 elections and beyond.” Also read: 'BNP kept no scope for compromise': Obaidul Quader to US delegation From October 8 to 11, 2023, the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) deployed a bipartisan, international delegation to provide an independent and impartial assessment of electoral preparations ahead of Bangladesh's upcoming 12th parliamentary election; examine factors that could affect the integrity and viability of the electoral process; and offer recommendations that could help improve the prospects for inclusive, transparent, and peaceful elections and public confidence in the process. Bangladesh’s robust economic growth and strong tradition of democratic values have set a strong foundation for the country to achieve its 2041 vision of becoming a developed country, the delegation said. However, they said, the current political environment presents several challenges to electoral integrity, including uncompromising and zero-sum politics, highly charged rhetoric, political violence, a widespread climate of uncertainty and fear, contracting civic space and freedom of expression, and a trust deficit among citizens, political leaders, and other stakeholders. Also read: Credible polls not possible under current regime, BNP tells US pre-election assessment team Women, youth, and other marginalized groups also face significant barriers to participation. Bangladesh is at a crossroads and the upcoming elections provide a litmus test for the country’s commitment to a democratic, participatory, and competitive political process. The delegation offered the recommendations below as a roadmap for progress toward credible, inclusive, participatory, and nonviolent elections that can advance Bangladesh’s democracy. They are outlined as ·         Moderate rhetoric and engage in open and substantive dialogue on key election issues. ·         Protect freedom of expression and ensure an open civic space where dissent is respected. ·         Commit to nonviolence and hold perpetrators of political violence accountable. ·         Create conditions to allow all parties to engage in meaningful political competition, including bolstering independent election management. ·         Promote a culture of inclusive and active electoral participation among citizens. To develop these recommendations, the delegation met with government officials; the Bangladesh Election Commission; party leaders from across the political spectrum; civil society representatives; current and former women members of parliament; representatives of organizations engaging with youth, persons with disabilities and religious minorities; media representatives; members of the legal community; and representatives of the international and diplomatic communities. Also read: PM Hasina vows to uphold democracy “We appreciate all those who shared their views freely about the challenges and opportunities that exist in Bangladesh for holding inclusive, participatory, and nonviolent elections,” said Bonnie Glick (IRI Co-Chair).. “We came away from these conversations with concerns about the election environment, but hopeful that our recommendations can help to improve the process.” The delegation recognized that it is the people of Bangladesh who will ultimately determine the credibility and legitimacy of their elections and their country’s democratic development. The delegation therefore offered this pre-election statement in the spirit of supporting and strengthening democratic institutions in Bangladesh. Also read: US mission’s focus on free, fair, participatory polls: CEC Members of the joint delegation included Bonnie Glick (IRI Co-Chair), Former Deputy USAID Administrator; Karl F. Inderfurth (NDI Co-Chair), Former Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs; Maria Chin Abdullah, Former Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia; Jamil Jaffer, Former Associate Counsel to the President of the United States; Johanna Kao, IRI Senior Director, Asia-Pacific Division; and Manpreet Singh Anand, NDI Regional Director, Asia-Pacific. The delegates were joined by technical and country experts from NDI and IRI.

Former US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl F. Inderfurth today (October 08, 2023) said the international community plays an important role in supporting Bangladesh as it prepares for the elections. “We are here to listen to a variety of actors and show our support for a transparent and inclusive electoral process,” he said as a joint NDI-IRI mission began assessing the status of election preparations. The team is scheduled to have a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 2:30pm today. The joint International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission arrived in Bangladesh to follow electoral preparations and conduct an independent and impartial assessment. From October 8 to 12, the six-member delegation will meet with a diverse group of election stakeholders including government officials, political party leaders, election authorities, civil society, and others. Read: IRI-NDI pre-election assessment mission due to arrive Saturday The delegation is co-chaired by Inderfurth and Bonnie Glick, former Deputy USAID Administrator; and includes Maria Chin Abdullah, former Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia; Jamil Jaffer, former Associate Counsel to the President of the United States; Manpreet Singh Anand, NDI Regional Director for Asia-Pacific; and Johanna Kao, IRI Senior Director, Asia-Pacific Division. “This joint pre-election assessment mission demonstrates our interest and support for democracy in Bangladesh,” said Bonnie Glick. “We look forward to meeting with key stakeholders and to provide independent, impartial, and timely analysis as the country heads to the polls,” Glick added. The delegation will conduct its assessment in accordance with the laws of Bangladesh and consistent with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation which was signed in 2005 at the United Nations. Read: Uzra Zeya reiterates USA’s desire to see free, fair election in Bangladesh Following the conclusion of its activities, the delegation will release a statement of its key findings, analysis of the pre-election environment, and practical recommendations to enhance the credibility of the process and citizen confidence in the elections. NDI and IRI are nonpartisan, nongovernmental organizations that support and strengthen democratic institutions and practices worldwide. The Institutes have collectively observed more than 200 elections in more than 50 countries over the last 30 years. Read more: Australia’s Greens party MPs want free, fair elections in Bangladesh