Bangladesh’s interim govt head announces general election will be held in late 2025 or early 2026

Bangladesh's interim government leader Muhammad Yunus on Dec 16 said that general elections in the country would be held late next year or in early 2026.

Yunus, a Nobel Prize winner, was appointed as the country’s ‘chief advisor’ in August after PM Sheikh Hasina was ousted following a student-led uprising.

"Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026," he said in a broadcast on state television.

The 84-year-old pioneer in microfinance said that heading the temporary government has been an “extremely tough” challenge.

He has also launched commissions to implement much-needed reforms and set an election date based on the agreement of political parties.

"Throughout, I have emphasized that reforms should take place first before the arrangements for an election," he was quoted as saying.

Among the reforms needed is an updated voter list, which is a "complex" challenge as it requires removing fake voter lists while registering first-time voters in a quickly growing youth population, he said.

He stated that including the full list of electoral reforms would delay elections by a few months.

"If the political parties agree to hold the election on an earlier date with minimum reforms, such as having a flawless voter list, the election could be held by the end of November," he added.

"If this can be achieved, no government will ever dare to strip citizens of their voting rights again," Yunus said Yunus expressing his desire to ensure 100% voter turnout.

Hasina fled Bangladesh on Aug 5 as thousands of protestors stormed the Ganabhaban (prime minister’s palace) in Dhaka.

Following the ouster of 77-year-old Hasina, reports of attacks on minorities emerged drawing flak from India and US.

Hasina’s government has been accused of rigging elections to hamper the democratic nature of the country. Her 15-year rule witnessed human rights abuses, mass detention and suppression of free voice.

Scores of people died during the protests and after the toppling of her government, mainly those who supported her Awami League Party.

In August, Hasina fled by helicopter to neighbouring India as thousands of protesters stormed the prime minister's palace in Dhaka.

Hundreds of people were killed in the weeks before Hasina's ouster, most by police gunfire.

Scores more died in the hours after her toppling, largely in reprisal killings against prominent supporters of her Awami League party.

General elections in Bangladesh were last held in January this year when Hasina celebrated a landslide victory.

However, the opposition denounced the poll and termed it rigged as the government arrested thousands of opposition parties.