Bangladesh: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has officially declared that Bangladesh’s next parliamentary election will take place in February 2026, setting in motion the transition to an elected government.
In a televised address to the nation on the first anniversary of the July Uprising, Yunus said, “On behalf of the interim government, I will formally request the chief election commissioner to arrange the national polls before Ramadan begins in February 2026.”
Ramadan is expected to start on February 17 or 18, depending on the lunar calendar, suggesting that the polls will be scheduled in the first half of February.
The announcement came shortly after Yunus unveiled the July Declaration, a policy framework seeking constitutional recognition of the 2024 student-led movement that ended Sheikh Hasina’s long rule.
“We want to make election day a true festival for the nation. This time, every family should go to the polling centre together, so children can witness the dignity of casting a ballot and learn the value of civic rights,” the chief adviser said.
He added that the interim administration would immediately begin institutional and psychological preparations to ensure the polls are remembered for their peaceful atmosphere, high voter turnout, and sense of unity. “Pray for a fair and orderly election so that all citizens can take part in building a new Bangladesh,” he said.
For years, Yunus noted, many citizens were denied the chance to vote. “This time, no one will be excluded. Every vote counts, and each ballot will help chart a new course for the nation.”
The declaration of an election date comes as political groups remain split over the timing of the 13th parliamentary election. The BNP and its allies, after consultations between Prof Yunus and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in London earlier this year, had been pressing for a February vote.
On the other hand, the National Citizen Party (NCP) insists that polls should be delayed until substantial reforms are implemented and those accused of killings during the uprising are tried. Jamaat-e-Islami has also demanded reforms before the country heads to the ballot.
Reactions to Yunus’s announcement were mixed. The BNP, along with Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolan, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and AB Party, welcomed the timeline. NCP and Jamaat, however, withheld immediate comment, saying their positions would be decided after internal discussions.
