Western countries, which traditionally begin expressing strong interest in Bangladesh’s national elections well before the polls, appear unusually quiet ahead of the country’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election, expected in February next year.
In the last three “controversial” elections, Western diplomats consistently called for polls to be “free, fair, inclusive, and participatory.” This time, however, they have largely refrained from making public statements — choosing instead to quietly engage with the political forces that could play influential roles in Bangladesh’s future governance.
Observers say the Western capitals are closely evaluating the new political landscape and its key players before determining their positions. They expect that these countries will speak out on electoral issues only when the formal election process begins, likely in late December.
Former Bangladesh ambassador to Washington Humayun Kabir said the Western countries are less worried now, keeping trust on the interim government and Chief Adviser Muhammed Yunus. “They believe this government can deliver a credible election.”
Another former diplomat, requesting anonymity, said, “The countries have their views, but they are not making any public statement yet. My understanding is that they will speak up once the election process formally begins.”
A Western embassy official in Dhaka, when asked why their mission had remained silent this time, made an interesting remark “We are not authorised even to comment on why we are quiet.”
The previous stance
Western governments — led by the United States — have maintained a broadly consistent position regarding Bangladesh’s elections and human rights situation. Statements from diplomats and official communiqués from Western capitals have repeatedly stressed the need for dialogue among political parties and for elections to be free, fair, participatory, and inclusive.
Ahead of the 10th national election on 5 January 2014, Nisha Desai Biswal, then US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, visited Dhaka and met with government officials, political leaders, and civil society representatives. At a press conference on 18 November 2013, she urged both major political camps to reach a political consensus, stating: “I have called on the leaders of both major political parties to empower their lieutenants so they can undertake a constructive dialogue to find a way forward to hold free, fair and credible elections… credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people.”
Following the election, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Atul Keshap reiterated Washington’s message. Speaking at a press roundtable in Dhaka on 24 February 2014, he stressed: “We believe that it is important that there be a dialogue among and between all of the political parties to agree a way forward that can result in elections can be deemed credible, free, and fair by the Bangladeshi people.”
Concerns were also raised in the United Kingdom. In November 2018, the then British MP Anne Main asked in Parliament about the state of Bangladesh’s election. Responding, the then UK Secretary of State noted that concerns had been conveyed directly to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina during a meeting at the UN General Assembly on 24 September. He added that during a call with then State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on 1 November, London again underscored the need for a free, fair, and participatory vote.
Following the 2024 parliamentary election, the European Union’s High Representative issued a statement expressing regret that not all major political parties took part. The EU called for political pluralism and respect for democratic and human rights principles, adding: “The EU strongly encourages all stakeholders to respect political pluralism, democratic values and international human rights standards and to engage in peaceful dialogue. It is essential that the media, civil society and political parties can carry out their work without censorship or fear of reprisals.”
David Brewster feels that there were concerns that previous elections were not inclusive of all parts of society. This election provides an opportunity to change how Bangladesh governments are elected and how Bangladesh will be governed in future.
However, a civil society source said the current US administration appears largely uninterested in Bangladesh’s election situation. In informal discussions with Bangladeshi interlocutors, US officials have indicated that elections in Bangladesh are no longer a major concern for them.
Shift in diplomatic tone
The fall of the Awami League government has created a scope for a qualitative change to Bangladesh’s political space. Many foreign governments view the current political atmosphere as more open and competitive compared to the pre-election environments of 2014, 2018, and 2024 — periods that saw regular Western statements on democracy, elections, rule of law, space for civil society, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and human rights.
Ambassador Kabir noted, “The context is new, and so are the players. It’s a different world now, and Bangladesh has changed drastically in the last two decades. Any political force that thinks it can govern the old way will be making a mistake.”
He added that relevant countries are gathering information, studying the emerging political forces, and assessing how they might shape Bangladesh’s post-election trajectory.
Engagement with emerging forces
Foreign diplomats are now meeting various political leaders, members of civil society, academics, and students on a near-daily basis to understand the rapidly evolving political environment.
A former diplomat believes the new political forces are still unstructured. “If diplomats thought the BNP remained the dominant player, their engagement with other parties would have been less frequent. But they see the landscape as far more complex now.”
He added that recent student union elections across universities have reinforced the view among foreign missions that Bangladesh’s political dynamics are shifting and must be closely monitored.
“There are so many uncertainties regarding the game, its rules, and its outcome,” he said. “In this situation, it is normal for international stakeholders to intensify their engagement — to understand the possible scenarios and the likely winners of the next election.”
