Bangladesh to go to polls in late 2025 or early 2026, announces Yunus on Victory Day

Bangladesh caretaker government will hold general elections in late 2025 or early 2026, interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced on Monday (Dec 16).

Yunus, who heads the caretaker government, has been facing a lot of pressure to appoint the "chief advisor" for the country after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was toppled in a student-led uprising in August.

The 84-year-old leader has been heading a temporary administration, formed to tackle what he termed an "extremely tough" challenge to restoring democratic institutions in the South Asian nation.

Yunus was speaking in a televised address to mark Victory Day, the defeat of Pakistan in a war with India that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

“If political consensus dictates that we have to, and I repeat, ‘have to,’ complete the election with minimal reforms and an accurate voter list, it may be possible to hold the election by the end of 2025,”he said, as translated by Bloomberg news agency. Yunus spoke in Bangla language.

"Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026," said Yunus.

Yunus launches commission to carry out reforms

Various commissions have been launched by Yunus to oversee the reforms and decide on an election date.

"Throughout, I have emphasised that reforms should take place first before the arrangements for an election. If the political parties agree to hold the election on an earlier date with minimum reforms, such as having a flawless voter list, the election could be held by the end of November," he said.

Yunus added that the elections will be delayed by a few months if the full list of electoral reforms is included.

“The task is more challenging this time because voters did not participate in the last three elections, and the voter list has not been verified for over 15 years," said Yunus, as reported by The Daily Star.

Watch:Bangladesh: Yunus Suppressing History and Spirit Of 1971 Liberation War, Says Hasina

According to Yunus, the key reforms needed are an updated voter list which is a "complex" challenge that will require stripping of false names from lists.

Yunus said he dreamt of "ensuring 100 per cent voter turnout" in the elections.

"If this can be achieved, no government will ever dare to strip citizens of their voting rights again," he stated.

Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina was ousted from the country.

The77-year-old had to flee by helicopter to neighbouring India after protesters, who were demanding the abolishment of quotas in civil service jobs, barged into the prime minister's palace.

The last general elections were held in Bangladesh in January in which Hasina had emerged victorious amid allegations of polls not being fair.

(With inputs from agencies)