August 6, 2025
Dhaka – Last night, Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that the next general election will be held in February 2026, launching the process of transferring power to the elected government.
“I will send a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner on behalf of the Provisional Government, requesting that the Election Commission hold a national election by the next Ramadan in February 2026,” he said in a televised remark to the country, which was the year of the July uprising.
Ramadan will begin on February 17 or 18 next year, but aiming at the moon, which means elections may take place in the first half of February.
Professor Yunus announced a much-anticipated election schedule just hours after the unveiling of the July Declaration, which calls for the constitution and the state to recognize the mass uprising led by students in 2024, ending the rule of Sheikh Hasina.
“We want to hold Election Day like Eid. This time, the joy of voting will be everyone. You all will go to the voting center with your children – an introduction to the grandeur of exercising civil rights for future generations.”
The chief adviser said his government will start spiritual and institutional preparation from today to ensure that the election has become memorable in the history of the country in terms of joy and festivals, peace and order, voter voting and mutual respect and sincerity.
He said: “Please pray that the elections are held peacefully so that every citizen of the country is building a new Bangladesh.
“For years, we were unable to vote. This time, all of us would vote. No one would be excluded.” Emphasizing the value of each vote, he urged the people to vote to put the country on the road to building New Bangladesh.
The news comes as major parties are still disagreeing during the 13th Parliament poll.
In early June, the French Kuomintang and like-minded gathering held a general election in February after a meeting with Tarique Rahman, a professor of French French law, Tarique Rahman, in London.
The National Civic Party (NCP) hopes to conduct a poll after the reform and trial of those killed during the uprising and the post-trial progress. Jamaat-e-Islami had been demanding reforms before the election.
French KMT, Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolan, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and AB Party welcome the announcement of the chief adviser.
NCP and Jamaat did not respond immediately and said they would make statements after the party discussion.
“The Last Chapter”
Professor Yunus recalled in his 35-minute speech that he said four months ago that the next parliamentary election would be held in June 2026. But before that, the government needs to complete some essential tasks – including the July declaration and the July charter.
“We have three responsibilities: reform, justice and elections,” he said, highlighting the progress of democratic reforms in the state’s institutional and responsible for the trial of the murderers in July.
He said that for this, the government has formed several reform committees and has implemented many emergency reforms in a short period of time.
The chief adviser said that in order to implement the long-term reform, the Provisional Government established a National Consensus Commission, which had talked for weeks with more than 30 political parties and coalitions and brought the July charter to its final stage on the basis of intense talks.
“We hope that, according to this consensus, the parties will soon sign the July Charter and reach an agreement on its implementation.”
Yunus said the July Charter will ensure the smooth transfer of power in Bangladesh, the independence and efficiency of state institutions, the implementation of true civil rights and the proper management of national resources and capabilities.
“We have to make sure no future government can become fascists again,” he said. “We have to fix the state in such a way that if any signs of fascism appear, it can be eliminated immediately without waiting for another 16 years without losing more lives without other massive rises.”
Professor Yunus said that during the ongoing trials of people who committed crimes against humanity during the uprising, Professor Yunus said that the process was progressing firmly as the formal hearing began.
He asserted: “The most cruelly murdered person in history will be brought to justice on the land of this country.”
He added that the trial process and its results will be gradually made public to ensure transparency and make it visible to the people.
Professor Yunus also said in his speech that holding polls would be his government’s last task.
“From the moment I ended my address to you on this historic day, we will enter our last and most important chapter. Now, we will begin the process of handing over responsibility to the elected government.”
He said he praised the foreigners for their contribution to resuming their previously disaster-torn economy in remittances, and said the Election Commission is preparing to ensure that foreign voters can vote this time.
“We also want to ensure that women voters across the country can vote freely and vote enthusiastically. We will take all the necessary measures to make the voting centers spill over with women voters,” he said.
The chief adviser said that while serving in the Awami League, citizens were unable to vote because they were deprived of the franchise.
“In this election, we hope to vote with great joy and celebration. In the celebration, first-time voters will go to the polling station to create lasting memories of the day. These voters will include new women and men voters, as well as voters who were eligible 15 years ago, but never have the chance to vote in their lifetime.”
He asked everyone to start a daily discussion on how to make the voting schedule smoothly, holidays and joy. “This election will lay the foundation for the construction of a new Bangladesh. Be prepared for it.”
Professor Yunus said flawed elections are responsible for every major conflict and violence in the country’s history.
He said the July uprising showed the ultimate consequences of either party forcibly seizing power through flawed elections, adding: “We do not want to repeat such shameful chapters in our history.”
He warned that a group was eager to hinder the electoral process and involved various conspiracies from home and abroad to undermine democratic progress.
“The defeated forces will reappear repeatedly before the election,” he said. “But if free, just and just elections are successfully held, these evil forces will face ultimate defeat.”
He said the government will use technology to provide continuous feedback on polls. It is taking the initiative to launch an application that will be available soon.
Through this app, people will be able to share all their suggestions, concerns, opinions and initiatives. He added that if any problems arise, the relevant authorities will take the necessary measures to resolve them.
The Chief Advisor urged the parties to ensure that young people and women are not missed in the declaration, commitment and plans.
“Remember that young men and women who have changed Bangladesh have the ability to change the world, too. Give them the opportunity to do it through your party,” he said.
Economics, other issues
Professor Yunus said taming inflation was one of his government’s biggest challenges. Food inflation rose to around 14% due to fragile economic conditions and flooding in the southern and northern regions.
“it [inflation] It has been cut in half now. We hope to reduce it to 6% by December. ”
He said the inflow of remittances helped the currency become stronger, so Taka praised the dollar after a long time.
Professor Yunus said that in the past 11 months alone, Bangladesh has paid $4 billion, the highest ever – principle and interest on foreign creditors.
“Even after previous dues were met, our foreign exchange reserves were increasing and we hope this trend will continue.”
He said the country received more than Rs 1,050 crore in foreign investment in the first quarter of the year due to a series of initiatives from the government, more than double the amount received in the same period last year.
He added that since October, Bangladesh has received 1.65 billion TK of FDI in six months, double the last six months of the previous government’s term. He also mentioned the investment commitments of Hong Kong-based industrial group Handa.
Professor Yunus said job creation is one of the key priorities for the interim government.
He said that during the past 16 years of money laundering, the government has taken action to bring the funds back and appoint a prominent international legal company.
He said some assets that laundered money abroad have been confiscated due to proper legal proceedings and the government believes that more positive results will soon be produced.
Professor Yunus stressed the importance of press freedom to democratic practice, saying that the government abolished the Digital Security Act and revoked all cases related to journalists in the bill.
“We make criticism public and easy to access,” he said. “The government can be criticized even in state media now.”
He added that the Cybersecurity Act has been amended and Internet access has been declared a fundamental right.
Speaking about modern manufacturing port management, he said the government operated by the Bangladesh Navy allocated Dry Dock Limited to handle container operations at the new mooring terminal.
“Since they took over, positive changes have been observed,” he said.
“If the port is modernizing, it will benefit not only Bangladesh’s economy, but also neighboring countries including Nepal and Bhutan.”
Professor Yunus said his government is working hard to alleviate visa-related complications for Bangladesh foreigners and has initiated preparations for at least sending Bangladesh to at least Japan for the next five years.
He also talked about measures to ensure pilgrimage, improve the quality of education and upgrade the scale of teachers’ compensation.
“The Provisional Government is committed to never allowing our educational institutions to be contaminated by the politics that undermines the academic environment and the lives of our youth.”
He also mentioned the steps in the government’s treatment and support for victims of atrocities during the July uprising, judicial reform and police reform.
The chief adviser called on all citizens on the first anniversary of the uprising to call for “Come on, let us overcome the first major challenge of building New Bangladesh.”
“Let’s swear on this July’s massive uprising day that we will never let this country separate again,” he said.
