With the interim government now instructing that all preparations for polls be made within December, with a tentative schedule for holding the elections before Ramadan, we take a look at what has been said and done by different stakeholders on the issue so far.
16 December, 2024
Months after taking the helm, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, during a televised speech on Victory Day, addressed elections directly for the first time.
"Broadly speaking, the election date can be set between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026," he said.
18 August, 2024
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus told diplomats in a briefing that after reforming the Election Commission (EC), public administration, judiciary, law enforcement agencies and media sector the government will arrange a free, fair and inclusive election.
24 August, 2024
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the interim government to immediately place a roadmap to the next general election.
24 September, 2024
Bangladesh's army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman told the Reuters in an interview that a transition to democracy should be made between a year and a year-and-a-half.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told Reuters in a separate interview democracy and election are not possible without the Awami League.
25 September, 2024
In a sideline meeting with the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva while in New York to participate in UN General Assembly, Yunus told her that after consensus is reached among the political parties based on the recommendations of the reform commissions and once the voter list is finalized, then the government will set the next election.
14 November, 2024
In a talk with the AFP while in COP 29 meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, Yunus reiterated that his government is committed to arranging an election as soon as possible, after necessary reforms. The date would depend on the pace of reforms to undertake.
16 December, 2024
In an address to the nation, Yunus said that elections could be held between late 2025 and early 2026, depending on the extent of reforms implemented. By late 2025, if an accurate voter list is ensured followed by minimal reforms. Additional six months required if comprehensive reforms are implemented based on the reform recommendations and national consensus.
17 December, 2024
The CA's press secretary Shafiqul Alam said the next general election will be held by June 30, 2026 in a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy. This, however, created confusion among the parties and the people, leading to criticism.
21 December, 2024
The BNP and likeminded parties called for the national elections to be held by December 2025 after a meeting with the 12-party alliance parties. Jamaat-e-Islami also echoed the call for elections within 2025.
04 January, 2025
After a meeting with British MP Rupa Huq at Jamuna, the CA again related the probable date of next general election with the extent of reform expected by the people of the country. He mentioned late 2025 or mid 2026 as the two probable times for the election.
14 January, 2025
The BNP opined that the national election was possible by mid-2025, and the local government elections should follow the national election. It considered the talk of local government elections before the national one as a process to delay the national election.
15 January, 2025
The Election Reform Commission submitted its recommendations to the CA on this day. It recommended the local government election to be held before the national one.
22 January, 2025
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud, too, said the Election Commission (EC) was prioritising the upcoming parliamentary elections over local government elections, the election will be by late 2025 or early 2026. He confirmed that the ballot will be used to conduct the next election.
23 January, 2025
The CA said in a programme titled as 'A Conversation with Muhammad Yunus" while in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum conference said the July Charter would be the guiding principle for the government's action plan for election and other responsibilities. He mentioned that unless his government was certain on the extent of the reform people were expecting, the election could not be held.
11 February, 2025
After a meeting with the BNP leaders, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the CA had assured them that the election would be held by December.
13 February, 2025
The BNP announced nation-wide programmes to keep the government under pressure for election by December 2025.
24 February, 2025
The EC said it was making arrangements of election based on two timeframes of late 205 and mid-2026.
27 February, 2025
In an extended meeting of the BNP, the leaders instructed all to be prepared for the next election.
28 February, 2025
The NCP announced a 151-member committee with Nahid as convener, criticised the NCC for deferring the reform efforts demanding justice and reform before election.
5 May, 2025
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) affirmed that there is no scope of 'night vote' in the upcoming election. Further, the EC will not be involved in any political controversy.
8 May, 2025
The Islami Andolon and the Islami Oikyojot announced that they will form a coalition for the next election.
10 May, 2025
The decision to ban the Awami League was announced against the background of demand protests by NCP, Jamaat e-Islami and some other parties.
25 May, 2025
Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of BNP, affirmed free and fair election under the interim government.
27 May, 2025
BNP leaders asked for a detailed roadmap for a fair election by December, 2025.
29 May, 2025
Tarique Rahman said election before December was quite possible.
6 June, 2025
In an address to the nation, Yunus announced the election to be held by the first half of April, 2026. The NCP said they have no objection in April if major reforms are ensured beforehand.
9 June, 2025
The Workers Party of Bangladesh said that election delay could increase national security challenges. Jamaat said the announcement of the election date cleared the doubts for many.
13 June, 2025
The CA-Tarique meeting in London discussed the possibility of the next election before the month of Ramadan.
16 June, 2025
Salahuddin Ahmad, member of BNP standing committee, said in reference to the CA-Tarique meeting that the decision for election in February, 2026 should be urgently communicated to the EC.
19 June, 2025
Draft election guidelines for parties and candidates are endorsed by the EC.
22 June, 2025
NCP declared to remain committed to reform promises of July, emphasised on the July Charter and expressed feelings of "being pushed into electoral politics".
3 July, 2025
Election commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin said the EC is preparing for election keeping the February to April timeline in mind.
9 July, 2025
The CA press wing said the CA had instructed the law enforcement agencies and other related bodies to complete the preparations for election by December 2025.
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