Chief Adviser Yunus hints at elections by year-end

Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of Bangladesh, has hinted that national elections may be held by the end of this year.

Emphasising that elections are “essential” for a functioning democracy, he added that even under the most expedited schedule, the earliest feasible date for the vote would be toward the year’s end.

The chief adviser laid out a possible timeline for the country’s next election in an exclusive interview with Japan’s state broadcaster, NHK World, on Wednesday.

Earlier, he had offered further insight into the potential schedule during a national address on Victory Day, signaling the government’s evolving plans for the vote.

He had said the timing of the elections would depend on the extent of reforms achieved through political consensus, adding that the vote would take place.

The general elections, he indicated, could be held sometime between late 2025 and the first half of 2026.

Dissatisfied with Yunus’s statement, the BNP has been pressing for a specific election date. The government, however, has maintained that both the reform process and the election timeline will be announced only after commissions tasked with state reforms release their reports.

In an interview with NHK World, Yunus said the next government, once elected, would have “a secure base to work on,” underscoring the importance of a stable transition.

Sheikh Hasina stepped down as prime minister on Aug 5, 2024, amid a mass movement, before fleeing to India. Her departure brought an abrupt end to the Awami League’s more than 15-year rule.

Three days later, on Aug 8, 2024, an interim government led by Yunus was sworn in, and the administration included two student representatives.

In the interview with NHK World, Yunus said the country had largely “evolved” from the state it was in under the Awami League government before its collapse last August. Bangladesh, he said, was now “on the right track” and growing stronger.

“I think we have come a long way since the day we took office,” Yunus said.

“This is because society, the economy, politics, and the judicial system were all in disarray.”

During the interview, the chief adviser, who played a pivotal role in the fall of the Awami League, also emphasised the importance of keeping the country’s youth at the forefront of Bangladesh’s future.

“Whatever the youth want to do… we must recognise their creative potential and share it with the world,” Yunus said.

“It is through this that we will move forward with our goals.”

Yunus further expressed appreciation for Japan, which he described as Bangladesh’s most significant development partner. He credited Japanese investment and technology for driving job creation and economic growth in the country, particularly benefiting its youth.