Only chief adviser can announce elections: Asif Nazrul clarifying previous statement

Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, in a Facebook post today, clarified his remarks he made during a TV programme about the timing of the next national election, saying those were his preliminary assumptions.

His social media statement comes after several media reports quoted him as saying the election may be possible by next year. According to him, the media presented his conditional assumptions as definitive election declarations.

In his Facebook post, he emphasised that the election schedule is a significant policy decision that falls under the Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus's jurisdiction.

"He [Yunus] alone has the authority to declare it [election schedule]," he stated.

Last Thursday night, during a discussion in a TV show titled "Ajker Patrika" on Channel i, he said the next national election may be arranged by the next year – 2025 – after completing the pre-election preparations, including the formation of a new Election Commission (EC) through a search committee.

He also said the new EC will then prepare a flawless voters' list and then an election will be held.

"I think realistically, holding the election may be possible by next year. There are many factors. This is a preliminary assumption by me," he said when Daily Manabzamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury wanted to know about the election schedule during the programme.

Further explaining his remarks, Nazrul in the post said, "In a recent discussion on TV, I said that elections may be possible within the next year, but there are many factors involved. I did not get a chance to fully explain these factors there."

"However, everyone will understand from our government's statements that reforms and political consensus are being talked about for the election. These are the factors," he added.

"I also spoke about the reforms in that programme. I have explained some other factors in the programme, such as the formation of the search committee and the Election Commission, preparing a voter list, etc.

"If these factors remain favourable, the election might possibly be held next year. I said that this was also just my initial guess," he continued.

However, some media outlets have presented these conditional assumptions as election announcements, he said, adding, "Respectfully, this is not correct."

Earlier on Friday, Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain said the recent remarks of Bangladesh Army chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul regarding the tentative election timing were not the government's official statements.

Khalid made the statement while talking to reporters in Cox's Bazar Circuit House. He went to the district Friday morning on a two-day trip.

"Until the government makes a specific announcement, the election timeline is not fixed," he said, adding that the next parliamentary election will take place only after the government completes the ongoing state reforms that aim to ensure stability in the country.

"A government has fallen. An interim government has been installed to complete the remaining term of that government. The bigger issue is the reform of the state. If elections are held without reforms, the state will remain unstable. That's why the government is deeply involved in reforming the state."

On 24 September, Army chief Gen Waker, in an interview with Reuters, remarked that the Yunus-led interim government has his full backing, saying "I will stand beside him [Yunus]. Come what may," to help his government complete key reforms, so that elections could be held within the next 18 months.

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on 8 August, three days after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.

The interim government is yet to announce a specific outline for the national election as its top priority has been carrying out state reforms since it took office.

Regarding the various political leaders' allegations that advisers have become power-hungry and will not relinquish power, Religious Affairs Adviser Khalid said that this was a "misconception on their part."

"We have no desire for power or greed. We have come here temporarily; we have been entrusted with the responsibility of reforming the country. When our work is done, no one will have to tell us. We will hold the election, transfer power to the elected government and leave," said Khalid.