Mamata Banerjee and Nobel laureate Muhammad Younas, who took over the interim government after Sheikh Hasina Wajid was ousted from power as a result of the student movement, made their first statement regarding the date of the new election.
According to the international news agency, the head of the interim government, Muhammad Younas, has said that elections in Bangladesh can be held in late 2025 or early 2026.
84-year-old Muhammad Younas said that after continuous authoritarian rule in a country with a population of more than 170 million and 35 million, restoring democratic institutions is now a very tough test.
Muhammad Younas, the chief advisor to the interim government, added that for the complete restoration of democratic institutions, I have always advised reforms before the elections.
Muhammad Younas added that however, the date of the elections depends on what the political parties agree on before the elections or reforms.
The head of the interim government added that if political parties agree to hold elections with minor reforms, such as having a flawless voter list, then the elections can be held by the end of November.
However, Muhammad Younas also said that including a complete list of electoral reforms would delay the elections by a few months.
The head of the interim government, who is under intense pressure to hold elections as soon as possible, said that with complete reforms, the election dates can be set by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026.
It should be noted that some ministers of the interim government and most political leaders are in favor of not holding elections until the verdict is given on cases such as enforced disappearances, imprisonment, torture and murder of opponents against Sheikh Hasina and her party.
