Timeline: Who has said what so far about next national election
On 16 December 2024, CA Yunus told the nation that the next general election could be held between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026 after accomplishing necessary state reforms
Soon after the fall of the AL regime on 5 August and once the interim government – headed by Muhammad Yunus – was in place, discussions began about the prospects of the next election.
Chief Adviser Yunus gave a possible timeline for the next general elections in Bangladesh – saying it would be held sometime in December.
"Broadly speaking, the election date can be set between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026," he said while addressing the nation marking Victory Day.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
His was a long awaited speech, with the date injecting new life into the country's politics.
But it wasn't all rosy.
Since Yunus' announcement in December, much has changed.
A timeline announced
In an interview with Reuters on 23 September 2024, Bangladesh army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman vowed to back the country's interim government "come what may" to help it complete key reforms after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, so that elections could be held within the next 18 months.
The army chief told Reuters that a transition to democracy should be made between a year and a year-and-a-half, but underlined the need for patience.
On 9 November 2024, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said people of the country would not accept any delay in holding the national elections.
Just a month after, on 16 December 2024, CA Yunus told the nation that the next general election could be held between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026 after accomplishing necessary state reforms.
"However, if, and I repeat, if, due to political consensus, we have to hold the election based on a flawless preparation of the voter list with minor reforms, then it may be possible to hold the elections by the end of 2025," he said.
The very next day, however, CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam indicated that the election could also be held by 30 June 2026.
"A very clear roadmap has been given regarding the elections. What could be a clearer roadmap than this? Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus mentioned that the elections could take place between December 2025 or 30 June 2026. The exact date will be determined and announced by the Election Commission," he said.
The comment, however, sparked confusion among some.
In an instant reaction, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed sought a specific roadmap for the next parliamentary election, not an idea of the polls which Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus had provided.
Five days later, the BNP and some other parties urged the government to hold the election by December 2025.
According to BNP sources, allies warned that if elections are not held within this period, political instability may worsen, and opposition factions, described as "allies of fallen fascists," may hatch conspiracies that could harm the country and people.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also alleged that chief adviser had sparked controversy by suggesting that the minimum voter age be lowered to 17, which has raised concerns about further delays in the election process.
"This means a new voter list will have to be prepared. People will now fear that more time will be wasted, and further delays will occur due to this [preparation of voter list]."
Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher also stuck to the December timeline.
"We have demanded a fair, neutral, and participatory election, and it should take place within 2025," he told a conference.
For most parties, a June 2025 date was a no go.
January brings another debate
On 14 January 2025, leaders of the BNP told the government to arrange the next election in the middle of this year, particularly in July-August, saying that reforms are a continuous process and BNP is committed to it.
Speaking at a press conference party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also brought up another contentious issue: He said there should not be any local government election, before the parliamentary election.
"We have repeatedly said there is no alternative to an elected government. This is the most important aspect of democracy. We believe the election is possible by mid-year, that is, by July-August this year," he said.
Fakhrul's comments were almost preemptive.
On 13 February, Jamaat held a meeting with the chief election commissioner where the party said holding local government polls before national elections was the will of the people.
"We have informed the Election Commission that the people expect the local government system to be operational. The people's desire is for the local government elections to be held early. We have expressed our respect and support for this desire," Mia Golam Parwar, secretary general of Jamaat, told reporters after the meeting.
Speaking at an event on the same day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir pointedly said they did not agree to it, adding it was a plot to take the country into a more fragile state from a political perspective.
"The sooner the elections are held, the smoother the political situation will be. The people of Bangladesh will come to a state of stability," he said.
A few days later on 22 February, addressing a rally, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman again called for local elections first.
"We want a national election only after ensuring political and administrative reforms in the country. Elections should be held under the proportional representation system so that no vote is wasted and every vote carries value."
Two days later, the army chief said Bangladesh should return to electoral democracy within one-and-a-half years.
"If you ask me, then I will say that should be the time frame by which we should enter into a democratic process," General Waker-uz-Zaman told Reuters.
Amid continued bickering, Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman issued a caution.
"I am warning you. If you cannot forget your differences and work together, if you engage in mudslinging and fighting, the independence and sovereignty of this country and nation will be at stake," he said.
He again reiterated the timeline for the election.
"Every time I spoke with Dr Yunus, I completely agreed with him that there should be a free, fair, and inclusive election and that the election should be held within December or close to that, which I initially mentioned about an election within 18 months. I believe the government is heading in that direction."
The National Citizen Party, the newly-formed political party by student leaders, then called for a Constituent Assembly election first instead of a parliamentary election.
On 28 February 2025, NCP leaders said they aim to formulate a new constitution that would lay the foundation for Bangladesh's second republic through the Constituent Assembly election.
"Through the drafting of a new democratic constitution, we aim to eliminate any chance of reinstating constitutional autocracy. Holding an elected Constituent Assembly to frame a new constitution is among our primary objectives," said Nahid Islam, convener of the party.
Yet another spanner was thrown.
Clarity in march?
In an interview with BBC's South Asia Correspondent Samira Hussain published on 6 March 2025, CA Yunus made the timeline clearer, saying that the next parliamentary election could be held between December 2025 and March 2026, depending on how soon the interim government could implement the necessary reforms for free and fair polls.
On 7 March 2025, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said the election could be held in June if the Election Commission can work properly.
He added that there was no need to wait till December.
At the same time, the party reiterated its stance that not all reforms needed to be carried out by the interim government. Rather, an elected government could do the more crucial ones.
Jamaat, however, insisted that reforms were necessary.
In an interview with AFP published on 7 March 2025, Nahid Islam, head of the NCP, said it was "not possible" to stage an election while the country still faces issues maintaining law and order after Sheikh Hasina's ouster.
A few days later, Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (South) NCP, added his two cents as well, advocating for local elections first to "test the administration's transparency."
"In the last three elections, people could not vote. The administration voted and conducted the elections. This Awami League administration does not have the skills to hold a transparent and acceptable election," he said.
On 22 March 2025, NCP proposed implementing reforms through two methods – first, ordinances before elections and second, a constituent assembly-elected legislature.
The party's Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar also said among its key recommendations regarding election-related reforms, the party strongly advocates lowering the voting age from 18 to 16.
"We do not want such a large stake of the mass uprising to be deprived of voting just because of age. This rule exists in various countries, including Latin America and Austria," he told a press conference at the NCP's temporary office in Dhaka's Banglamotor.
Debates continue
In an interview with The Daily Observer, Ishraq Hossain, special Assistant to BNP Chairperson's Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee and BNP's Mayor candidate for the next Dhaka South City Corporation, also said the demand to hold local government polls first was a delay tactic.
The NCP, meanwhile, has stuck to its guns of the ban and trial of AL before polls can be held.
Jamaat, on the other hand, still wants national elections first.
In February, Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, said elections could be held by March 2025.
As the days progress, the political parties remain at loggerheads. Whether a middle ground will come in sight soon still remains to be seen.
