Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has announced that the thirteenth national election will be held on any day in the first half of April 2026.
He made the announcement during a speech to the nation on Friday (June 6) at 7 PM.
The Chief Advisor said that there is great interest among political parties and the public regarding the timing of the next national election. He emphasized that the election will be held between December this year and June next year. The government is taking all necessary steps to create a conducive environment for holding the election within this timeframe.
He stated that since Bangladesh’s independence, every deep crisis the country faced was mainly caused by flawed elections. Repeated flawed election processes have led one political party to become a brutal fascist power. Those who organize such elections are considered criminals by the nation. Likewise, parties that come to power through such elections become despised by the people.
He further added that the government has a major responsibility to conduct a clean, festive, peaceful election with wide participation. An election must be organized in a way that prevents the country from falling into future crises. The most important factor for this is institutional reform. Without good governance in institutions directly involved with the election process, all the sacrifices made by students and the public will be in vain.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that their mandate was based on reform, justice, and election. Considering this, he believes that by the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, they will be able to reach an acceptable stage regarding reforms and justice. In particular, visible progress will be seen in the trial of crimes against humanity, which is a collective responsibility toward the martyrs of the July coup.
The Chief Advisor also announced after reviewing ongoing reform processes related to justice, reform, and elections, that the next national election will be held on any day in the first half of April 2026. Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide a detailed roadmap of the election at an appropriate time.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus said they want an election that will satisfy the souls of the martyrs of the coup and bring them peace. They want the upcoming election to have the highest number of voters, candidates, and participating parties. It should be remembered by the nation as the most free, fair, and impartial election.
He added that after one and a half decades, a truly representative parliament will be formed in the country. A large group of young people will get the chance to vote for the first time in their lives. The government is committed to taking all necessary steps to achieve these goals and pledged this commitment to the nation.
