Bangladesh To Hold Parliamentary Elections By Late 2025 Or Early 2026, Interim Head Yunus Announces In Victory Day Speech

Bangladesh is planning to conduct its next parliamentary elections by late 2025 or the first half of 2026, interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced during a televised address on Victory Day, 16 December.

Yunus outlined the timeline for the elections, emphasizing that the final schedule would depend on recommendations from the Electoral Reform Commission.

“If political consensus dictates that we have to, and I repeat, ‘have to,’ complete the election with minimal reforms and an accurate voter list, it may be possible to hold the election by the end of 2025,” Yunus was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

Yunus's chief adviser emphasised the need to provide the Election Commission with adequate time to implement essential reforms and enhance the electoral process.

Yunus highlighted that the voter list, which has not been verified for over 15 years, is a key challenge in preparing for the elections. “The task is more challenging this time because voters did not participate in the last three elections, and the voter list has not been verified for over 15 years,” he said, according to The Daily Star.

The interim leader also noted that if broader electoral reforms are pursued, the elections would likely be delayed until the first half of 2026. However, if the focus remains on preparing an accurate voter list and implementing minimal reforms, the elections could take place by the end of 2025.

Bangladesh has faced significant political turmoil in recent months. Earlier this year, Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina was ousted from the prime ministership amid widespread anti-government protests demanding the abolition of quotas in civil service jobs. Hasina subsequently fled to India, further intensifying the political crisis.