Polls may begin between late 2025 and early 2026: Yunus

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced on Monday that Bangladesh's next general elections could be scheduled between late 2025 and the first half of 2026.

Yunus made the statement during his address to the nation on Victory Day, marking Bangladesh's victory in the 1971 Liberation War.

Victory Day commemorates the moment on December 16, 1971, when General Amir Abdullah Niazi of Pakistan's armed forces and 93,000 soldiers surrendered to the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini, marking the end of Bangladesh's nine-month war for independence.

In his address, Yunus emphasized the importance of political consensus to move forward with elections. He said, "If political consensus allows us, again, to conduct elections based on accurate electoral rolls with a few reforms, it may be possible to hold elections by the end of 2025." Yunus acknowledged, however, that additional time might be needed to implement the necessary reforms. "And if we add to this the extent of reforms expected in terms of the electoral process and the Electoral Reforms Commission's recommendations and on the basis another six months may be required," he added.