Dhaka – Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said yesterday that it is possible to hold the next general election at the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026.
In a Victory Day address to the nation, he also announced that he would lead a committee to build consensus among political parties and other stakeholders on reforms.
“The first task of the National Consensus Formation Committee will be to reach consensus on all decisions required to hold elections at the earliest opportunity and to finalize recommendations on when to hold elections in consultation with everyone.”
His announcement of a possible election timeframe comes amid growing calls from political parties for a road map to parliamentary elections.
Yunus’ government, which came to power after Sheikh Hasina was ousted on August 5 in a massive student-led uprising, has set up six committees promising reforms in different areas.
He said in a televised speech yesterday that every reform committee was important to meet people’s expectations. However, preparations and dates for the next national polls depend on the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Commission and the Constitutional Reform Commission.
The newly formed Electoral Commission will also take time, depending on the intensity of the reforms required.
Yunus said elections could be held before the end of 2025 if they need to be held on the basis of political consensus and if the voter list is accurately prepared with minimal reforms.
“On the other hand, if we aim to implement the desired level of reforms based on the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Commission and on the basis of national consensus, it may take at least another six months.
“Generally speaking, the election timetable can be set between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026.”
When talking about election preparations, Yunus said that the Election Commission has begun preparations.
He said the first and most important task was updating the voter list, which was very challenging. This has been made more difficult by the fact that voters have not had the opportunity to participate in the past three elections. No one had a chance to verify the voter rolls.
He stressed the need to include all eligible voters who came of age during this period, while removing duplicate entries from the electoral roll.
“After a long time, many young men and women will vote for the first time in their lives. They have been denied these rights in the past. Their participation will make this election a historic and unforgettable event.
He hopes nearly 100 percent of first-time young voters will turn out to vote and create new traditions.
The chief adviser urged the Election Commission, political parties and social organizations to take creative measures to ensure that first-time voter turnout is close to 100%.
“If we can do that, future governments won’t dare compromise people’s right to vote.”
Yunus also reiterated the government’s commitment to letting the Bangladeshi diaspora vote, a promise that had been made many times in the past but never fulfilled.
He called for the creation of a reliable system to facilitate this process.
consensus committee
Yunus said Professor Ali Riaz, chairman of the Constitutional Reform Commission, will serve as deputy chairman of the new National Consensus Commission. The chairs of the other five committees will become members of the new committee.
The five committees were established to reform the electoral system, judiciary, police management, anti-corruption commission and public administration.
Yunus said the consensus committee will be able to start work next month after receiving recommendations from the six reform committees. He hopes the six reform committees will submit their final reports as soon as possible.
The task of the new committee will be to exchange views with all stakeholders, including political parties; identify issues that require consensus; and make recommendations for implementation, Yunus said.
Economic improvement
Yunus said that in addition to elections and reforms, the people have given the interim government many responsibilities.
He said the economy was on the verge of collapse when the interim government took office, but the situation has improved significantly in the past four months. No bank had to close, no matter how weak they were. Steps were taken to ensure their survival.
He said that between July and November 2024, exports reached US$16.11 billion, an increase of 12.34% from US$14.34 billion in the same period last year.
He said that taking into account high inflation, the government decided to increase the wages of garment workers by 9% after consultation with labor unions and owners. Garment workers are one of the main driving forces of the economy.
Yunus acknowledged, however, that the government has not had the desired success in controlling runaway inflation despite measures such as increasing supply, lowering import tariffs, reducing the influence of middlemen and regulating the market.
He said if extortion by the transport sector stops completely, prices of daily necessities will fall further.
The chief adviser seeks everyone’s cooperation to keep commodity prices affordable during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
He said that if anyone tries to make huge profits by creating a crisis, the government will take strict action against them.
White paper ‘shocking’
Yunus said the revelations in the white paper on Bangladesh’s economic situation left people “shocked” and “in disbelief”.
“In broad daylight, in front of everyone’s eyes, crores of rupees of taka were siphoned off from banks. No one spoke. No one saw. Those who looted the money did not face any resistance,” he said . “Mega projects are carried out with borrowed money and under the guise of these projects huge sums of money are looted.”
He said the White Paper Commission revealed in its report that nearly half of annual development spending was plundered and a system of crony capitalism was created to benefit the authoritarian regime and its allies.
“These stolen funds are now being used to create unrest in the country and are returned to the country. You can clearly see how the money is being spent on propaganda against national unity.
He said Bangladesh Bank was trying to recover the siphoned off funds. He said the task was daunting as the legal framework surrounding such issues was very strict.
‘Unimaginable cruelty’
Yunus said the first volume of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances was actually a “chilling document” that detailed the “unimaginable atrocities” humans can inflict on each other.
He said the report would serve as an enduring record of the last administration’s most despicable chapter.
He added that the report cannot be made public for the safety of the many victims’ families.
The trial of a fallen dictator
Yunus said the trial of fallen dictator Hasina and her allies for their role in the July-August massacre was ongoing. He said that the International Crime Tribunal Act has been amended.
For the sake of transparency in the trial process, defendants are allowed to appoint foreign lawyers. The trial proceedings have been open to journalists, human rights activists and other observers.
The chief adviser said that at a recent meeting, he had informed International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim AA Khan that Bangladesh would lodge charges of crimes against humanity with the ICC over the uprising Perpetrators of genocide during.
“Stay united”
Yunus recalled the immense sacrifices made by freedom fighters during the liberation war. He also thanked Nobel Peace Prize winner and President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta for participating in Bangladesh’s Victory Day celebrations.
“Let the Victory Month be the month to reaffirm the commitment to building a new Bangladesh, keeping in mind the uprising of students and masses.”
He urged everyone to build a society where minorities are not afraid of the majority, women are not afraid of men, the poor are not afraid of the rich, and people are not afraid of expressing their views.
He also appealed to everyone in Bengal – irrespective of political party, ideology, race, religion, caste or age – to remain united.
“We were able to overthrow powerful authoritarian governments through national unity. They are still doing their best to divide the country. Their aim is to undermine national unity through communal politics and incite one group against another. In any case, do not let their dastardly intentions Succeed.
