Fair elections must; results should be respected by all: Mounir Satouri

Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights Mounir Satouri has said the national election in Bangladesh must take place in a "fair and transparent" manner and its results should be respected by all, stressing that political stability is essential for economic development and improved living conditions in the country.

"Of course, the upcoming elections [February next] must take place, they must take place in a fair and transparent manner and the results of such an election should be respected by all," he told UNB in an interview, noting that this is the condition required for stability after elections in Bangladesh.

Satouri, who wrapped up his Bangladesh visit tonight (19 September), however, said elections are only one of the steps in the process, and it is important that all political stakeholders support the reforms that have garnered consensus and their application.

Other members of the delegation were Isabel Wiseler-Lima (EPP, Luxembourg), Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR, Poland), Urmas Paet (Renew Europe, Estonia), and Catarina Vieira (Greens/EFA, The Netherlands).

Against the backdrop of the upcoming elections in February 2026 and the strengthening of EU-Bangladesh relations, the European Parliament delegation visited the country to "learn more about the work" of the interim government in promoting good governance and advancing human rights, including international labour standards, and to discuss the EU-Bangladesh partnership in these areas.

"So I believe it's always important to look back at history," he said, adding that the separation of powers was not respected, the justice system was not independent, and there was no civil space or freedom of expression or freedom in the press - whereas those are all guarantees of a healthy democracy and state stability.

Satouri said he looks forward and can only hope that after the elections, he will have the pleasure of working with the members of Parliament. "Whatever the outcome of this election, the people in power will remember that separation of powers is essential to guarantee a stable regime."

As the Subcommittee for Human Rights of the European Parliament, they organise several missions every year to different countries, and they get to choose which country they wish to go to.

"And we chose Bangladesh at this given point in time for two main reasons — because the country is undergoing a transition, you're nearing the end of this transition, this is a key moment for your country and democratic transition in Bangladesh," Satouri said.

And also because the EU, in the months to come, will be strengthening its partnership and cooperation with the country, he mentioned.

Whenever the European Union decides to create or deepen ties with a third country, Satouri said, the Subcommittee for Human Rights goes on-site to check and observe the human rights situation and to recall the importance of human rights, the rule of law, and fundamental rights, as those are among the dimensions of any EU agreement with a partner country.

The European Union has long been supporting democracy and the democratic transition in Bangladesh, he said.

A year later, Satouri said, they saw that the interim government has taken a number of measures that are having a 'tangible impact' on the country's future and the transition.

The delegation members saw how this process is making progress and how they can continue to support Bangladesh in this endeavour.

They held meetings with representatives of the interim government, including Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, labour representatives, and representatives of multilateral organisations operating on the ground.

Since the violent crackdown on the mass protest movement of 2024 and the subsequent downfall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been undergoing a period of political transition under an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof Yunus.

The interim authorities launched a reform process in autumn 2024, including reforms to the country's electoral system, judiciary, and other key institutions.

"We had an interesting discussion with Prof Ali Riaz on constitutional reform," Satouri said, adding that if the outcome of this process is supported in the spirit of consensus by the various political parties, then this seems to be an assurance that the transition will take place under the best conditions.

He, however, said that the transition is not over yet and there is still a crucial step - the elections - and whether the elected Parliament will support and implement the measures adopted by the interim government.

Bangladesh and the EU have resumed negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).

Bangladesh is currently under an Everything But Arms (EBA) enhanced engagement process with the EU, which includes a systematic approach to addressing concerns regarding fundamental human rights as well as labour rights.

Responding to a question, Satouri said the PCA is an essential framework for relations between the EU and partner countries, and the European Union strives to ensure that such a partnership and cooperation agreement benefits both sides and that the interests of both parties are balanced and represented.

"Our role as the Subcommittee for Human Rights is to ensure that the human rights dimension is included in the agreement - that it is part and parcel of the agreement beyond the trade issues," he said.

When the negotiations are finalised, Satouri said, the European Parliament will be called upon to provide its opinion - to either approve or disapprove the agreement.

"And we, the Subcommittee for Human Rights, will be checking the quality of the human rights commitment in that agreement," he said.

Satouri said the future agreement, of course, is an agreement that will bind the EU and Bangladesh beyond the term of a single government.

"So it's important that the concerns and interests of the population are well represented in that agreement, and the agreement is efficient both to ensure prosperity and respect for human rights," he said.