Yunus confirms to Dutch vice-minister: AL barred from next election

A record number of people will cast votes for the first time after the last three rigged elections, Yunus says

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has confirmed that the Awami League will not be permitted to participate in the national election scheduled for February, as the party remains banned and its registration suspended following its ouster during last year’s mass uprising.

The statement came on Tuesday during a courtesy meeting with Dutch Vice-Minister for International Cooperation Pascalle Grotenhuis at the State Guest House Jamuna.

A media statement from the Chief Advisor’s office said the two leaders discussed Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transition. Yunus reiterated his government’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, and festive election in the first half of February.

A record number of young people would cast their first ballots in the next election, as they had been unable to vote in the three “rigged” general elections held under the previous “autocratic” regime, the statement quoted Yunus as saying.

The press release said Grotenhuis praised Bangladesh’s election preparations, noting the government had a few months to get ready for the vote.

Grotenhuis hoped Bangladesh’s newly enacted labour laws would help attract more Dutch and European investment. She shared plans of the Netherlands to sign MoUs on public-private partnerships with BIDA.

“For 50 years, Bangladesh and the Netherlands were development partners. Now we want to transform this into an equitable partnership in politics, trade, and investment,” the statement quoted the Dutch minister.