Election can be held between end of 2025 and first half of 2026: CA Yunus

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said the next general election can be held between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026 after accomplishing necessary state reforms and a commission will be formed soon to build a national consensus, engaging with political parties.

"Broadly speaking, the election date can be set between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026," he said while addressing the nation on Monday morning, marking Victory Day, reports BSS.

"However, if, and I repeat, if, due to political consensus, we have to hold the election based on a flawless preparation of the voter list with minor reforms, then it may be possible to hold the elections by the end of 2025," he said.

"And if we add to this the expected level of reforms in the electoral process and in light of the recommendations of the Election Reforms Commission and based on the national consensus, then it may take at least another six months," said the chief adviser.

The Consensus Building Commission, comprising the chiefs of six reform commissions, is expected to begin work next month. It will engage stakeholders, including political parties, to identify areas of consensus and recommend implementation strategies, he said.

In his address, broadcast on Bangladesh Television and BTV World, Yunus said the government is working to fix the economy and rein in inflation, calling for collective efforts to keep essential commodity prices stable during the upcoming Ramadan, reports UNB.

The election timeline announcement comes amid growing pressure from political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, who have urged the interim government to hold elections promptly after expediting state reforms.

Yunus' announcement suggests that his government's tenure will be less than two years, even if the election is held in June 2026, the final month of the first half. This would be shorter than the Fakhruddin Ahmed-led interim government's tenure, which lasted from 12 January 2007 to 6 January 2009, with the Awami League's return to power for the second time through the 9th  parliamentary election, held on 29 December 2008.

The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, remained in power until it was ousted on 5 August this year by a student-led mass uprising that left hundreds dead and thousands injured.

The Yunus-led interim government took charge three days later and has prioritised reforms in key state institutions such as the judiciary, administration, and Election Commission above anything amid mounting pressure to hold elections.

In his address, Yunus said he has repeatedly appealed to all to hold the polls after completing all the major reforms, BSS reports.

Stressing the need for completing reforms before holding the elections, he said each reform commission is important to implement the people's expectations for reforms.

Especially focusing on the Electoral Reform Commission and Constitution Reform Commission, Yunus said, the government's tenure and the date for the next elections mainly depend on the recommendations of these two commissions.

"The big news in this context is that the Election Commission has been formed with the appointment of the chief election commissioner. The commission has assumed responsibility. From now on, the responsibility has been entrusted to them [commission] to initiate the process of forming the future government. They have started their preparations. They have a lot of work to do," the chief adviser said.

Consensus Building Commission

The interim government has a total of six reform commissions and a National Consensus Building Commission is on the cards, reports BSS. 

In his address to the nation, the chief adviser said, "We are moving towards establishing a National Consensus Building Commission with the chairmen of the six reform commissions. Its task will be to exchange views with all stakeholders, including political parties, to identify issues on which consensus can be established and to make recommendations for implementation."

He said, "Since establishing a national consensus is a very important responsibility of the interim government, I will serve as the chairman of this commission and Professor Ali Riaz will serve as its vice-chairman.

"The commission can co-opt new members if it deems it necessary. I hope that the National Consensus Building Commission will be able to start working next month after receiving the final reports of the first six commissions."

EC looks at cumbersome tasks

Mentioning that the first big task of the Election Commission (EC) is to update the voter list, the chief adviser said updating the voter list is always a difficult task but now the task has become even more difficult because the country's voters did not have the opportunity to vote in the last three elections, reports BSS.

"The names of all those who have become eligible to vote in the last 15 years must be included in the voter list. This is a big task. After the student-people uprising, there is no scope for mistakes there," he said.

Noting that many young women and girls will vote for the first time in their lives after a long time, the chief adviser said in the past, they were deprived of their voting rights and joy.

"So, their voting in this election will be a memorable event. All arrangements must be made to make this experience smooth. My sincere wish is that the first-time young voters in this election will create a tradition by ensuring almost 100% voting," he said.

Prof Yunus urged the EC and all social institutions and political parties to take various creative programmes to achieve this goal.

"If we can ensure this, no government in the future will dare to snatch the people's voting rights," the chief adviser added.

In addition to new voters, Prof Yunus said, the names of all voters must be ensured on the voter list while special attention must be paid to removing fake voters from the list.

The interim government wants to ensure the voting rights of Bangladeshi voters, he said, adding that a reliable system must be made ready to this end.

"...if we want to further improve the electoral process and implement the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Commission, then the EC will have to be given time in line with the breadth and depth of the necessary reforms," the chief adviser said.

A pledge to fix the economy, rein in prices

"The government is working sincerely to control inflation. Although we have not yet achieved the desired success, I am confident that inflation will soon come down," Prof Yunus said, reports UNB.

"We seek everyone's cooperation to ensure that prices remain manageable. We have already talked to businesspeople, and they have assured us that there will be no short supply [of commodities] in the market. If anyone tries to create an artificial crisis for excessive profit, we will take strict action against them," Yunus said in his address.

The chief adviser highlighted ongoing initiatives to curb market syndicates, including plans to establish alternative agricultural markets.

Acknowledging the persistence of extortion in the transport sector, Yunus said, "We have not yet been able to completely stop extortion in transportation. If this issue is resolved, we hope prices will fall further."

He also focused on the economic challenges inherited from the previous "fascist regime," saying that the interim government is working to rebuild a devastated economy and stabilise forex reserves.

"In November 2024, export earnings rose to $4.12 billion, a 15.63% increase from the previous month. During the July-November period of 2024, total exports reached $16.11 billion, compared to $14.34 billion during the same period last year, reflecting a 12.34% year-on-year growth. Meanwhile, foreign exchange reserves have climbed to $19 billion," he mentioned.

The chief adviser went on to say, "These indicators show that our economy is beginning to recover and conditions are improving."

A growing pressure for polls

Several political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have been urging the interim government in the last few months to hold elections as soon as possible. They also urge the government to quickly finish state reforms, reports BSS.

On Sunday, stressing the importance of quick completion of state reforms, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman said people have the right to know the intention of the interim government about the timeline and duration required for the reforms.

During a recent interview with Al Jazeera on the sidelines of COP29 in Azerbaijan, Yunus said the interim government will proceed with election preparations without implementing any reforms, should political parties want it.

"It is all a question of what people want; the political parties want. If the political parties say forget about it [state reforms], hold the election – we will do it," he said.

On 9 December, in an interactive session with the envoys of European countries at the Chief Adviser's Office, Yunus referred to the Election Reform Commission and said there are certain reforms that are required to be finished before the election to avoid old-fashioned problems.

Yunus said they have to wait for the commission's report to incorporate those proposals in the election process. "If the government holds the election now, it will be an old-fashioned one and all the old-fashioned problems will come back."

Earlier on 17 November, in an address to the nation on 100 days of the interim government, Yunus urged for patience, adding that if given time the interim government will hold the kind of election as desired by the people after completing the necessary reforms.

A tradition of winter polls 

History shows that Bangladesh typically holds its parliamentary or Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections in winter. The Ershad regime was ousted on 6 December 1990, marking the end of military rule. The first election after the restoration of democracy was held in February 1991 under a non-partisan interim government led by Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed. This was the 5th JS election, which resulted in the BNP coming to power.

The 6th JS election was held in February 1996 under BNP rule, but it was boycotted by the Awami League, Jamaat, Jatiya Party, and other opposition parties. This parliament lasted only briefly before a constitutional amendment established a caretaker government. The 7th election was held again in June 1996, bringing the Awami League to power, while the 8th JS election took place in October 2001, with the BNP regaining power.

Similarly, the 9th JS election in December 2008 saw the Awami League return to power for a second term. The 10th JS election was held in January 2014, the 11th in December 2018, and the 12th in January 2024.

During his address, Prof Yunus said that the 13th JS election will be held between December 2025 and June 2026. Bangladesh's election history suggests that the polls are likely to take place in winter, in the December-February period. 

Previous election commissions in Bangladesh have preferred this period, probably because it tends to increase voter turnout compared to the summer and rainy seasons.