The Commonwealth Observer Group, chaired by former Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has begun its mission in Bangladesh to observe the country’s upcoming parliamentary election and national referendum.

The 13-member delegation, drawn from across the Commonwealth, arrived in Bangladesh to assess the electoral process before, during, and after polling day. The mission will run until February 18, 2026, covering the pre-election environment, election day procedures, and the post-election period.

The group began its work by meeting with representatives of the media, civil society organizations, political parties, and other key stakeholders. Observers will deploy to selected divisions across the country on February 10 to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, vote counting, and results management.

Speaking at an arrival press briefing in Dhaka on Sunday, February 8th, Akufo-Addo said democracy remains a core principle of the Commonwealth and is enshrined in its Charter. He called on all stakeholders to uphold democratic values to ensure a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process.

“The Commonwealth is founded on the principle that people have the right to freely express their will and determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems. We urge all stakeholders to uphold these values for the benefit and prosperity of the people of Bangladesh,” Akufo-Addo said.

He talked about the importance of youth participation in the electoral process, noting that Bangladesh has a predominantly young population whose engagement is critical to the country’s democratic future and serves as an example to the wider Commonwealth.

The Observer Group will issue an interim statement on its preliminary findings on February 14, with a final report to follow after the completion of its mission.

The deployment forms part of the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to supporting member states in conducting credible, transparent and inclusive elections during key democratic moments.