Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, announced on Monday that general elections are expected to take place either in late 2025 or early 2026. This announcement comes amid increasing pressure for a specific election date following the student-led uprising that resulted in the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.
Yunus, who is 84 years old and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is currently heading a caretaker government tasked with the challenging responsibility of restoring democratic governance in Bangladesh, a country with a population of approximately 170 million. In a broadcast on state television, he stated, “Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026.”
The political landscape in Bangladesh has been tumultuous. Sheikh Hasina fled to India as protesters stormed her palace in Dhaka, leading to her administration’s collapse. Her government faced accusations of manipulating the judiciary and civil service for political gain and conducting unfair elections during her 15-year rule, which was marked by significant human rights violations, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings of opposition members.
Yunus emphasized the need for reforms before setting an election date. He mentioned that if political parties agree to hold elections with minimal reforms—such as ensuring an accurate voter list—polls could potentially occur by late November. However, he cautioned that implementing comprehensive electoral reforms would delay the elections by several months.
In addition to addressing immediate electoral concerns, Yunus has initiated various commissions aimed at overseeing essential reforms across different sectors. The success of these reforms and the timeline for elections will largely depend on consensus among political parties.
As Bangladesh navigates this transitional period, the international community is closely watching how these developments unfold and what implications they may have for democracy in the region.
