Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has characterised the upcoming national elections as a pivotal moment that will chart Bangladesh’s trajectory for the next one hundred years, labeling it a “century-defining” event for the nation.
CA Yunus made the remarks while addressing a coordination meeting with Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners concerning the preparations for the 2026 national election and referendum process, held at the Shapla Hall of the CA’s Office.
“The elections we are about to enter are unlike any we have had before. I would say clearly, this is the election of the century. It will set the course for Bangladesh for the next hundred years,” Yunus told the administrative officials.
CA elaborated that the 2026 electoral exercise will comprise two key parts, a conventional parliamentary election for a five-year term and a historic 100-year referendum, aimed at deciding the country’s long-term direction.
He clarified that while one election is for the next five years, the accompanying referendum will establish the nation’s course for an entire century. “One election is for the next five years, but the referendum will set the course for a century,” Yunus said, adding, “The importance of this dual voting process in shaping the nation’s future.”
Through this historic referendum, he stated, the nation will ultimately find its “address” in the global community and solidify the path it intends to follow for the next hundred years.
CA specifically urged the commissioners and DCs to view the upcoming polls differently from previous exercises meant to elect a government for a five-year tenure.
“This is not all about a five-year election. This is the first election after the people’s uprising. This is the election that will transform the people’s uprising into governance. So we have to see this election differently,” Yunus said.
He expressed his confidence that the new generation of officers would demonstrate utmost commitment and deploy their full capabilities to realise the people’s aspirations born from the July Uprising in 2024.
“Normally, during elections, people know what role is played by various government officials,” he said. “But what we are going to do now is completely different. This is a different type of election. In previous elections, we saw that a vote was held for five years, and many times that election became a mockery in front of everyone,” the CA added. “But this one is fundamentally different. Therefore, we must focus on something special.”
Issuing a stern warning to the officials, Yunus called for sincere efforts, emphasising that there is absolutely no room for error or miscalculation in this process, and that repentance would not be an option should any mistake occur.
“There is no scope for error. No scope for confusion. This election will give the nation a new life and a new birth. And we – the people organising it – are like midwives assisting in this new birth. Our duty is to ensure that this newborn future is safe and beautiful,” he said.
The CA noted that a successful referendum would mark the beginning of a new hundred-year journey for Bangladesh. He insisted that this century-long voyage must commence on a smooth and celebratory note. “The century-long journey must begin with joy and celebration. And we must ensure such an environment,” he concluded.
The meeting was moderated by Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid. Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, newly appointed Bogura DC Toufiqur Rahman, and Tangail DC Begum Sharifa Haque were among the participants in the discussions.
