Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus has announced that the next national elections will be held on any day in the first half of April 2026. ‘Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide a detailed roadmap for the elections at an appropriate time,’ he stated during a televised address to the nation on the eve of the Eid-ul-Azha.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Yunus emphasized the necessity of creating an environment conducive to elections in the country. He reiterated that the election will occur between December and June next year, ensuring that the government is taking necessary steps to facilitate this process. Yunus addressed the nation’s historical challenges, highlighting that flawed elections have led to crises since independence. He noted that the accumulation of power through such elections turned political parties into oppressors.
Yunus further stated that those who organized previous flawed elections were identified as criminals by the nation, and the parties that gained power through such means were disdained by the public. A primary responsibility of the current government is to ensure that the upcoming election is clean, festive, peaceful, and involves broad participation to prevent future crises.
The chief adviser stressed the importance of institutional reform to ensure good governance in election-related institutions, asserting that sacrifices made by students and the public should not be in vain. The government is committed to fulfilling its mandates of reform, justice, and organizing elections, with visible progress expected by the next Eid al-Fitr. Yunus expressed determination to try crimes against humanity as a collective responsibility, particularly regarding the July mass uprising.
He called for the most free, fair, competitive, and acceptable elections in history, emphasizing the need to satisfy the aspirations of the martyrs of the uprising. Yunus envisions an election with maximum voter, candidate, and party participation, remembered as the most impartial in the nation’s history. He anticipates the formation of a truly representative parliament, with a significant number of young voters participating for the first time.
Yunus urged citizens to seek specific commitments from political parties and candidates to approve agreed-upon reforms in the next parliament’s first session. He called for assurances that political entities will uphold Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, and dignity without compromising national interests or democratic rights. Commitment to transparency, honesty, and freedom from corruption and anti-people activities is essential, he noted.
Yunus concluded by framing the upcoming election as a pivotal moment to build a ‘New Bangladesh,’ driven by the aspirations of students and the general populace. He encouraged voters to discern which candidates are committed to this vision of a new future, underscoring the importance of their role in the election process.