India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that it received a formal invitation from the government of Bangladesh to send official election observers for the 13th Parliamentary elections on 12–13 Feb 2026, but chose not to send any.
Key points from the MEA statement:
India declined the invitation to avoid any perception of interfering in Bangladesh’s internal political process.
Asianet Newsable
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s support for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh.
India stated it will wait for the election results and the mandate that emerges before engaging with Bangladesh on bilateral issues.
The decision ensures that the legitimacy and credibility of the polls rest with the Bangladeshi people and the international community, not with external validation.
This move has happened against the backdrop of heightened diplomatic sensitivity between India and Bangladesh, making India cautious about being seen as influencing electoral outcomes.
Bangladesh’s election itself has attracted a large number of international observers and journalists, but officially none from India, which is notable given the historically close bilateral ties and shared democratic principles.
