Ivars Ijabs says Bangladesh’s last three national elections were not credible

European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs on Sunday said he observed widespread positive sentiment and strong public enthusiasm across Bangladesh regarding the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum, while noting that the country’s previous three parliamentary polls were not viewed as credible.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna.

“There was no discussion about the Awami League or its participation in the election during the meeting,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters while briefing them at the Foreign Service Academy.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad also addressed the briefing.

Responding to an invitation from the Bangladesh authorities, the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 February.

The EU EOM, led by Ivars Ijabs— a Latvian Member of the European Parliament— began its activities in late December 2025 and is now expanding with the deployment of 56 long-term observers across all 64 administrative districts of the country.

This marks the EU’s first full-fledged election observation mission to Bangladesh since 2008.

Ijabs said the EU would send a large observation team, describing the upcoming election as a historic moment for Bangladesh.

During the meeting, Prof Yunus and Ijabs discussed preparations for the national election and the referendum.

Press Secretary Alam described the meeting as highly significant, with detailed discussions on election preparedness, ensuring a level playing field for political parties, and the referendum—particularly the “Yes” vote.

He said the EU, which does not deploy election observation missions in many countries, decided to do so in Bangladesh due to its large population, strong trade relations with the bloc, and its status as a close partner.

Alam also noted that the EU had not sent any election observation mission during nearly sixteen years of Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

Ijabs informed the Chief Adviser that the EU observers would be deployed nationwide, closely monitor all aspects of the electoral process, and hold consultations with major political parties and other stakeholders.

Prof Yunus assured the EU that both the election and the referendum would be conducted smoothly and would be free, fair, credible, peaceful, and festive.

He said the Election Commission and the interim government were fully prepared to ensure the proper conduct of the polls and the referendum, adding that a level playing field would be guaranteed for all political parties and that he did not anticipate any major challenges.

The Chief Adviser thanked the EU for sending the observation mission, calling it “extremely important” for ensuring a credible election and advancing Bangladesh’s democratic transition.

Regarding the referendum, Alam said the interim government is carrying out and will continue awareness and campaign activities in support of the “Yes” vote.

SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, among others, were present at the meeting.