Bangladesh’s electoral process has long been under scrutiny amid ongoing concerns over transparency, participation, and public trust. As questions surrounding credibility and inclusiveness continue to shape political discourse, various initiatives are now underway to strengthen democratic processes and rebuild voter confidence.
One such initiative is AHEAD Bangladesh, an EU-funded project aimed at supporting citizen election observation, civic engagement, and more inclusive political participation.
In this interview with TIMES of Bangladesh, Michael Lidauer, senior international advisor for AHEAD Bangladesh, speaks to Promiti Prova Chowdhury about how these efforts are being implemented on the ground and whether they can help make elections more credible, transparent, and trusted.
Can citizen observers really make a difference in places like Bangladesh where the political environment is contested?
Citizen election observers do make a meaningful difference. Their presence is widely sought after by citizens and civil society organisations, precisely because it adds an important layer of transparency and accountability to the electoral process.
Their most visible impact is on election day itself. When independent and neutral observers are present at key stages – such as the opening of polling stations, the voting process, the closing procedures, and the counting and tabulation of results – they help strengthen confidence in the process. Their presence sends a clear signal to election officials that procedures are being monitored, and to all political actors that an impartial scrutiny mechanism is in place.
Beyond this signaling effect, observers also contribute to shaping the broader electoral environment. In situations where there may be concerns about electoral tension or violence, their presence can have a stabilising influence by reinforcing expectations of transparency and accountability.
Importantly, their role does not end with election day. Through systematic observation based on established methodologies, they compile evidence-based findings and develop recommendations grounded in international standards and best practices. These recommendations are then shared with the Bangladesh Election Commission and other relevant stakeholders, contributing to ongoing electoral reforms and improvements in future electoral cycles.
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Bangladesh has put forward recommendations aimed at strengthening the integrity of future elections. What do you think are the top priorities that should be changed?
There are several areas – also highlighted by international partners – where relatively modest changes could lead to meaningful improvements. For example, adjusting criteria for citizen election observers can enhance participation. A positive step by the Bangladesh Election Commission was lowering the minimum age from 25 to 21, encouraging greater youth engagement.
At the same time, some rules create unintended barriers. Restricting observers from monitoring in their own constituencies, for instance, prevents them from voting at home – an issue that could be addressed through simple regulatory changes.
Postal voting is another key area. Introduced for the first time in recent reforms, it was initially seen as risky due to technical and logistical challenges. However, its implementation has been largely successful, both domestically and internationally. Still, improvements are needed such as better voter education to reduce invalid ballots caused by minor errors.
Going forward, postal voting can be expanded and refined. This is especially relevant for persons with disabilities, who continue to face barriers at polling stations, from inaccessibility to lack of adequate support. Measures like accessible polling locations, transport facilitation, and better assistance are essential.
At the same time, extending postal voting to persons with disabilities offers a practical, inclusive solution helping reduce barriers and ensuring broader participation in the electoral process.
In Bangladesh, crisis of public trust is a major issue. We have held our long-awaited national election recently. How do you assess the current situation?
I think it’s still a little bit early to assess the new situation under the new government. I think we have to give some more time to assess how the current situation looks like. Also, how civic space develops in this context.
What will be the political gameplay? What will be the space for civil society organisations to operate in this space? What will be their freedom of expression? What will be their capacity and space to advocate for changes and continue the reform drive that has prevailed prior to the elections? But I think what we can say already, the conditions are, of course, very different now than they were before the elections.
Our project has started at a time when the reform drive was at its peak, and when the transitional interim government was providing the rules for the game. Now, voters have chosen a new government, the new government is in place, and now how the situation unfolds from here, it yet has to be further seen and observed.
So, are we in the follow-up period right now?
The post-election follow-up phase is now beginning. It is natural that after an election there is a pause but recent developments mark a clear restart. The EU Election Observation Mission has just presented its final report, including 19 recommendations, six of which are priority areas. These have already been shared with the Bangladesh Election Commission and national authorities, and are now being discussed more widely through stakeholder engagements.
Once the mission concludes its visit, the responsibility shifts to the follow-up phase. This is where initiatives like our project come in. While our work began last August, we are now focused on supporting the implementation of these recommendations – both from international observers and national organisations.
We are assisting the Election Commission in reviewing and organising a large body of recommendations from multiple observer groups into clear thematic and priority areas. These may require legislative changes, administrative actions, or procedural reforms.
The next step is prioritisation, where the Election Commission and political stakeholders determine which reforms to take forward. This process also builds on earlier inputs, including recommendations from the Electoral Reform Commission. Ultimately, the goal is to bring together national and international efforts to translate these recommendations into meaningful electoral improvements.
In your experience, you have seen the most successful election reforms and the most unsuccessful election reforms. What lessons can Bangladesh draw? Do you sense any kind of impediment that may slow down or hinder the process?
It depends a little bit on the type of recommendation. Some recommendations are immediately actionable, clear “low-hanging fruits” that can be implemented through relatively simple procedural adjustments. Others, however, are far more complex, as they are deeply rooted in structural and societal dynamics, particularly when it comes to women’s political participation in Bangladesh.
As recent elections have shown, the number of women candidates remains strikingly low, reflecting long-standing barriers that cannot be addressed overnight.
This means that any meaningful effort to implement these recommendations requires patience, sustained commitment, and a long-term vision. Stakeholders must be prepared to engage consistently, recognising that structural change takes time.
The regulation of digital and social media, for instance, presents a rapidly evolving global challenge. In the context of electoral processes, it is an issue that requires careful consideration, collaboration, and innovative approaches to ensure both integrity and freedom of expression.
A topic like campaign finance ultimately requires political will to exercise regulation in this area. But what are good lessons learned on how to do this best? One lesson learned is to start early. Now is the time to think about these things because the memory of the electoral process is still fresh, right? It’s not long ago, but in two or three years from now, , some of these recommendations may appear a bit distant because the experience is longer away and we don’t know how the political process will unfold.
So, as long as the memory is fresh, we want to use this as an opportunity and work with it. And then promote quick implementation when there is an opportunity.
There are local elections coming up quickly. That’s the next opportunity to test run these recommendations and actually try to implement them, not only in five years. There are elections around the corner at various levels over the coming year or so where we can already work towards their implementation. And lastly, continued stakeholder engagement. We know from many countries, including in this region, that when national authorities like the Election Commission partner with civil society organisations and don’t look at them as an enemy or an overcritical force, but as a constructive force, that can provide external scrutiny and provide external insights.
