Bangladesh to hold elections in April 2026

Yunus announces decision during address to nation

DHAKA:

Bangladesh's national elections will be held in the first half of April 2026, the country's de facto prime minister, Muhammad Yunus, said on Friday.

"The Election Commission will provide you with a detailed roadmap for the elections at an appropriate time," said Nobel peace laureate Yunus.

He made the announcement during a televised address to the nation on the eve of Eidul Azha.

'Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide a detailed roadmap for the elections at an appropriate time,' he said.

'I have repeatedly said that this election will be held between December and June next year. The government is doing whatever is necessary to create an environment conducive to elections in the country during this period,' he said.

Yunus said, "I know that there is great interest among political parties and the public to know when the next national election will be held. It is important to remember here that as long as the country has plunged into deep crises since independence was due to flawed elections. Through repeated accumulation of power through a flawed election, a political party turned into a barbaric fascist."

The chief adviser said those who organised those elections were identified as criminals by the nation. The party that came to power through such elections was also hated by the people, he added.

A major responsibility of this government is to hold an election in a clean, festive, peaceful, and massively participated atmosphere so that the country does not fall into a new crisis in the future, said the chief adviser.

For this, institutional reform is the most important, he said, adding, If good governance cannot be ensured in the institutions involved with the election process, all the sacrifices of the students and the public will go in vain.

"We took responsibility on the basis of these three mandates: reform, justice and elections. In that regard, I believe that we will be able to reach an acceptable position in terms of reform and justice by the next Eidul Fitr."

He said, particularly with regard to the trial of crimes against humanity, which is our collective responsibility towards the martyrs of the July mass uprising, we will be able to see visible progress,' he said.

'We will be able to implement the mandate you have entrusted with us, even if it is minimal. In this regard, we have discussed with all parties to organise the freest, fairest, competitive and acceptable elections in history,' he said.

'We want elections that will satisfy the souls of the martyrs of the uprising and bring peace to their souls. We want the largest number of voters, candidates and parties to participate in the next elections.