Bangladesh will hold its next general election in early April 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s post-uprising transition, interim leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus announced on Friday.
In a televised Eid-ul-Azha address to the nation, the 84-year-old head of the caretaker government declared: “I am announcing to the citizens of the country that the election will be held on any day in the first half of April 2026.”
First Election After Hasina’s Ouster
This will be the first general election in Bangladesh since the mass protest movement of 2024 that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina administration, ushering in a new political chapter for Bangladesh under Yunus’s transitional leadership.
Yunus explained that the timing follows careful review of reforms underway in the judicial, electoral, and governance systems.
He noted that the Election Commission would soon unveil a comprehensive roadmap for the polls.
State media outlet Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported that Yunus reaffirmed the election window initially proposed — between December 2025 and June 2026 — with April now being finalised for execution.
‘Laying Groundwork For Democracy’
“The necessary groundwork is being laid to ensure that the election is free, fair, and truly reflective of the people’s will,” Yunus said.
He acknowledged that the country was anxiously awaiting a firm date. Referencing Bangladesh’s troubled democratic past, Yunus pointed to flawed elections as a key driver of political instability since independence.
“Repeated rigging turned a political party into a fascist machine,” he said. “The architects of those manipulated elections were exposed as enemies of the people, and the regimes that followed were ultimately discarded.”
Yunus stressed that the interim government’s foremost duty is to deliver a credible and peaceful election.
“We must break the cycle of crisis. If we fail to reform the institutions tied to our electoral process, the sacrifices of our youth and citizens during the uprising will be rendered meaningless,” he said.
Yunus Administration’s Core Mandates
He reaffirmed the three core mandates of his administration: institutional reform, justice, and democratic transition through elections.
By Eid al-Fitr next year, Yunus said he expects major progress in bringing perpetrators of crimes committed during the July 2024 uprising to justice and strengthening governance structures.
“Our goal is to conduct the most transparent and competitive election in Bangladesh’s history,” he declared. “An election that pays tribute to the martyrs of the uprising and brings peace to their souls.”
Underscoring the importance of mass participation, Yunus appealed to citizens to ensure the upcoming polls are a true reflection of the people’s mandate.
“We want maximum involvement — more voters, more candidates, more parties. Let this be remembered as Bangladesh’s most impartial election,” he said. “For many, it will be their first vote. Let this be the beginning of a new era.”
Yunus Demands Integrity From Candidates
Calling on the electorate to demand accountability from political aspirants, Yunus urged voters to press candidates and parties to uphold the national reform agenda, protect democratic freedoms, and act with integrity.
“Ask them to pledge clean governance — free of corruption, partisanship, syndicates, and extortion. Demand transparency and service to the people,” he said.
Yunus ended his address with a broader message: “This election is not just a political event — it is a rare opportunity to build a New Bangladesh. Familiar faces and symbols may appear on the ballot, but it is your choice — your vision — that will shape our future.”
With the countdown to 2026 now officially underway, Yunus’ announcement signals a defining moment in Bangladesh’s pursuit of democratic renewal and long-awaited political accountability.
(With inputs from Reuters)
