Germany has underscored the importance of ensuring that Bangladesh’s upcoming national election is free, fair, credible, and marked by high voter turnout.
As a key member of the European Union, Germany believes that strong political commitment is essential to advancing the ongoing reform process in Bangladesh.
German Ambassador to Bangladesh, Rüdiger Lotz, shared the views at a DCAB Talk held at the Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday.
He said, “You will have one of the largest democratic elections in the world in 2026, with 127 million eligible voters, a significant portion of whom are young.”
“We, together with our European partners, are convinced that the country needs a free, fair and credible election. We have the impression that Bangladesh is on a good path toward achieving that,” he added.
Germany supports the entire reform process being led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus ahead of the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February. Ensuring that the polls are fair, credible, and widely participatory with a strong voter turnout remains crucial, he noted.
Ambassador Lotz described the upcoming polls as significant not only for Bangladesh but also for the region and beyond, as the country transitions “from autocracy to democracy,” a process that he said carries implications across Asia and the world.
He also said many Bangladesh citizens have expressed a willingness to voice their opinions, which he said reflects the “strength of democratic roots” in the country.
Germany wants to see an election where all citizens – men and women – can participate freely without intimidation or obstruction.
“It is about how the election is conducted,” the ambassador said. “We would like to see a peaceful election, with political parties refraining from violence and with high turnout.”
Referring to Yunus’s expectation of a 60 percent voter turnout, he said such a threshold is “very reasonable”.
About the recent verdict against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Ambassador Lotz reiterated that the European Union remains opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances.
He emphasised that any efforts to address abuses of power must be carried out “in a way that respects the basic rule of law.” It is essential for legal processes to adhere to broad international standards, he said.
In the long term, he said, Bangladesh will need national reconciliation and a comprehensive national dialogue. The country has to come together. After the election, there needs to be national reconciliation, he added.
