Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey has officially congratulated Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman following the party’s victory in the 13th National Parliament Election and the concurrent constitutional Referendum, held on last Thursday.

In a formal message, the Secretary-General praised the citizens and institutions of Bangladesh for their roles in ensuring a peaceful electoral process and the concurrent referendum on the July Charter.

"I commend all citizens and institutions who contributed to a peaceful electoral process and referendum," Botchwey stated, while reaffirming the Commonwealth’s long-term commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s democratic institutions.

This high-level acknowledgment follows a report from the Commonwealth Observer Group, which characterized the February 12 polls as transparent, orderly, and a significant step forward for the nation's democratic aspirations.