General election in first half of April 2026, says Yunus

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has said Bangladesh will hold the 13th parliamentary elections in the first half of April next year, significantly narrowing speculation over the timing, which had ranged from December to June.

Addressing the nation on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha on Friday, Yunus announced that the Election Commission will present a detailed roadmap of the election at an “appropriate time” based on the projected schedule.

“This (timeline) will allow us to implement, at least in part, the mandate you have entrusted to us,” he said. “With that in mind, we have engaged in dialogue with all parties to deliver the most free, fair, competitive, and widely accepted election in the country’s history.”,” he said.

“After reviewing the ongoing reform activities related to justice, reform and elections, I am also announcing to the countrymen that the next national elections will be held on a day in the first half of April 2026.

“Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide you with a detailed roadmap for the elections at an appropriate time.”

During the address, Yunus covered a range of issues in his speech including trade, reforms, July crimes against humanity trials, humanitarian corridor, and Rohingya repatriation, among others.

He said, “We who will be voters in this election are very fortunate. We are getting the opportunity and responsibility to play a unique historical role. We shoulder the responsibility of creating a new journey for the nation.

“We have been tasked with creating a new political culture, which is a great opportunity. A new Bangladesh will be built only through our well-thought-out votes. The blood of the [July] martyrs will be fruitful.

“I hope everyone will go to polling centres putting enough thought behind it and then voting with firm conviction. Start thinking right now, and begin discussing. Understand the importance of your vote from now on. Your votes will be etched in history.”

Following the fall of the Awami League government in the face of a student-led mass uprising in July-August, the interim government headed by Yunus took charge.

The Yunus-led National Consensus Commission is in discussions with political parties to agree on reform recommendations presented by 11 panels formed by the government to drive state reform initiatives.

Earlier, he said that the timing of the elections would depend on the extent of the reforms, mentioning that the polls could be held in December with the implementation of some crucial reforms while a decision to realise more reforms could push it to June next year.

He had also said that the projected window would cross the month of June in any way.

The tentative timeline prompted opposition from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which stressed that such a move could compel them to withdraw their support from the interim government.

On the other hand, the National Citizen Party (NCP), a party formed by the student leaders of the July Uprising, had been saying that they did not want any elections before the Awami League was tried and the reforms carried out.

In the second half of May, Yunus said he was “contemplating resignation” from his role as the chief advisor amid the controversy linked to the humanitarian corridor, rumours of handing over the responsibility of operating the Chittagong Port terminal to a foreign company, and the demand for national elections.

It triggered a political turbulence that culminated in Yunus holding marathon discussions with representatives of two dozen political parties. The parties pledged their support for Yunus' administration while presenting their demands, easing the tension to a degree.