Interim leader Yunus: Bangladesh to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026

Kathmandu: Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who heads the caretaker government installed after an August revolution has said that general elections would be held late next year or in early 2026.

Interim leader Yunus said on Monday. Pressure has been growing on Nobel Peace Prize winner Yunus , who is appointed the country’s “chief adviser” after the student-led uprising that toppled former premier Sheikh Hasina in August to set a date.

‘Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026 ‘said Interim leader Yunus. Yunus has launched commissions to oversee a raft of reforms he says are needed and setting an election date depends on what political parties agree.

‘Throughout, I have emphasised that reforms should take place first before the arrangements for an election,  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,’ said interim leader Yunus.

Likewise, Bangladesh last held general elections in January when Hasina celebrated victory  poll denounced as neither free nor fair and boycotted by rivals after a crackdown during which thousands of opposition party members were arrested.

RSS/AFP