Political activities have visibly intensified across Bangladesh as aspirant candidates of BNP and several other parties begin groundwork for the upcoming parliamentary election, announced by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Aspirant candidates from different parties have started mass contact programs—visiting markets, tea stalls, and local gatherings to exchange views with voters and rally support in their constituencies.
The Election Commission (EC) finalized and approved the roadmap for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, raising expectations that it could be officially announced as early as today (Thursday).
Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam confirmed the development, noting that all aspects of the action plan have been completed.
The momentum on the ground follows Prof Muhammad Yunus’s televised address on August 5, when he declared that the next national election will be held in February 2026.
Yunus Sets Timeline for Parliamentary Election
In his address marking the first anniversary of the July Uprising, Prof Yunus said, “On behalf of the interim government, I will formally request the chief election commissioner to arrange the national polls before Ramadan in February 2026.”
Ramadan is expected to begin on February 17 or 18, depending on the sighting of the moon, which places the election in the first half of February.
The announcement came shortly after Yunus unveiled the July Declaration, which calls for constitutional recognition of the 2024 student-led movement that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
“We want to turn election day into a festival of democracy. This time, families will go to polling centres together, so children can witness and learn the dignity of casting a vote,” he said.
Ensuring a Fair and Festive Election
The chief adviser assured that preparations would begin immediately to make the upcoming polls historic in terms of peace, turnout, and civic celebration. “Please pray for a fair and peaceful election so that every citizen may take part in building a new Bangladesh,” Yunus urged.
“For many years, people could not vote. This time, no one will be left out. Each vote matters, and every ballot will shape the future,” he added.
Mixed Political Reactions
The BNP and its allies had already demanded a February election, particularly after a meeting between Prof Yunus and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in London earlier this year.
However, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has argued that elections should be delayed until reforms are visible and trials are held for those responsible for killings during the uprising. Jamaat-e-Islami has also stressed that reforms must come before polling.
While BNP, Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolan, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and AB Party welcomed the chief adviser’s timeline, the NCP and Jamaat said they would finalize their positions after internal discussions.
