Dhaka: Bangladeshs interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, announced that the country’s parliamentary election would be held in February 2026. “On behalf of the interim government, I will write a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting that the election be arranged before Ramadan in February 2026,” Yunus stated during a broadcast marking the one-year anniversary of the ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to France24.com, Hasina has been in exile since August 5 of the previous year after fleeing the country amid a student-led mass uprising that ended her 15-year rule. She is currently facing trial for crimes against humanity related to the hundreds of deaths that occurred during the uprising. Yunus emphasized that the interim government would provide all necessary support to ensure the election is conducted in a free, peaceful, and celebratory manner.
Initially, Yunus had proposed holding the election in April. However, major political parties, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, advocated for a February election prior to the commencement of Ramadan in the predominantly Muslim nation of 170 million people. Yunus, recognized for his work in developing microcredit markets, was joined by senior leaders of major political parties as he unveiled a road map focused on national unity, democratic reforms, and inclusive governance.
The announcement was also attended by senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami party. Khaleda Zia, Hasina’s archrival, leads the main opposition party poised to compete for power in the upcoming election. The visibility of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, was particularly notable on the streets of the capital, Dhaka, with supporters of its student wing waving the flags of Bangladesh and Palestine.
Bangladesh finds itself at a critical juncture as political parties navigate the path toward inclusive politics. The rise of Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist forces has attracted attention since Hasina’s departure from power.
