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Published : 05 Aug 2025, 08:58 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has formally announced that the parliamentary polls will be held in February, ahead of Ramadan, reaffirming a timeline hinted at earlier by the interim government, though he stopped short of specifying a date.
In a televised address on Tuesday, marking the July Uprising Day, Yunus said Bangladesh was entering “the final and most important phase”.
“We are now beginning the process of transferring power to an elected government,” he said.
“On behalf of the interim government, I will send a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting that the Election Commission organise the national election in February 2026, before the start of Ramadan.”
The speech came exactly a year after the 2024 student-led Uprising toppled the Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina. The deposed prime minister left for India shortly on Aug 5 last year.
Yunus's interim administration took office on Aug 8, 2024.
In his previous address to the nation in June, Yunus had indicated a possible election in the first half of April 2026. But after he met with BNP leader Tarique Rahman in London on Jun 13, a joint statement declared that elections could be held earlier -- in February -- if all preparations were completed in time.
Although this announcement pleased many, including the BNP, several parties continued to press for a specific date and schedule. Following the conclusion of national consensus talks on reform, many had anticipated Yunus would use his Tuesday speech to provide a clear timeline.
But instead of a date, the chief advisor asked for prayers that the election be held peacefully, enabling citizens to take the first steps towards building what he called a “New Bangladesh.”
He pledged full government support to ensure a smooth, inclusive, and festive voting experience.
“This time, let the election be remembered in our country’s history for its peace, participation, harmony, and celebration,” Yunus said. “From tomorrow, we must all prepare mentally and institutionally to make that happen.”
He said arrangements would be made to facilitate voting by expatriates and to ensure women across the country could cast their votes freely and joyfully.
“This time, we want to see long queues of women at polling centres,” he said.
Referring to the Awami League government’s past three elections, Yunus said: “For the past 15 years, the people were deprived of their right to vote. This time, we want to vote in joy, and make the election feel like a festival.”
He urged citizens to go to polling centres with their families and to start discussing locally what a good voting process would look like.
“This election will lay the foundation for building a New Bangladesh,” Yunus said. “We must choose the best candidate. As we stand before the ballot box, let the faces of those who gave their lives for this right rise before our eyes.”
“February is not far off,” he added. “The election will be here before we know it. This time, no one will be left behind. Everyone will vote. And all of us should be able to say we helped put the country on the path to a new beginning.”
JUSTICE, REFORM
In the 35-minute speech, Yunus began by paying tribute to the martyrs of the July Uprising, calling them “the nation’s sons of the sun”. He also expressed gratitude to those injured or permanently disabled during the protests.
He recalled his earlier pledge to hold the election by June 2026, but stressed that key reforms had to be completed first, including the July Proclamation and the upcoming National Charter, also known as the July Charter.
“Today, on this day of the Uprising, we have presented the July Proclamation to the nation alongside all political parties. It outlines the context -- from the Liberation War and other democratic struggles to the 2024 July Uprising.”
The advisor outlined three key responsibilities of the interim government: reform, justice, and elections.
“The demands of the people, written on walls during the Uprising, centred on democratic reform of the state,” Yunus said. “To this end, we formed several reform commissions. Many of their short-term, implementable reforms have already been completed.”
These include reforms to the economic sector, judiciary, and public administration -- aimed at increasing transparency, accountability, and reducing corruption and abuse.
Yunus also detailed progress made by the National Consensus Commission, which consulted over 30 political parties. In the first phase, it presented 166 recommendations, from which 19 core reform areas were identified.
“In the second phase, after 23 days of discussion, consensus was reached on most of those 19 areas, though a few parties still have notes of dissent,” Yunus said.
“We have achieved our goal on reform,” he said.
“With continuous dialogue among political parties under the guidance of the Consensus Commission, the July Charter is now near finalisation.”
Describing the charter as “a historic achievement”, Yunus said it would not only reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape but would also be remembered for the way it was drafted.
He extended “deep gratitude” to all political leaders and Consensus Commission members, especially the commission Vice-Chair Ali Riaz, who led the process.
Despite some differences, Yunus said efforts to build consensus continued. He expressed hope that all parties would soon sign and implement the National Charter.
The document is expected to provide a roadmap for the peaceful transition of power, ensure the independence of state institutions, and guarantee civil rights and equitable governance of national resources.
“We must build a state where no future government can turn fascist,” Yunus said. “We must create systems that can immediately detect and eliminate any signs of authoritarianism, so we never again have to wait 16 years or face another uprising.”
On justice, Yunus said trials for crimes against humanity during July–August 2024 were “progressing steadily”, with formal hearings already under way.
“Those responsible for the brutal killings will be tried on this soil,” he said, adding that the entire process, including the prosecution of the former prime minister and her aides, would remain transparent and visible to the public.
Yunus also reaffirmed the interim government's “final responsibility” -- to hold free, peaceful, and celebratory elections.
“On this July Uprising Day, I call on all citizens to succeed in our first major test toward building a New Bangladesh,” he said.
