Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent, and celebratory general election in the first half of February next year.
“The upcoming general election will be peaceful and festive,” he continued, adding that while certain factions are attempting to delay the polls, the interim government is committed to holding them as planned.
He shared these remarks during a meeting with a delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), led by Mounir Satouri, at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, according to a statement posted on the chief adviser’s official Facebook page.
“We have already set the election timeline, and it will take place in early February, just before Ramadan,” the chief adviser stated.
Yunus highlighted the growing excitement among the public, especially the youth, as student elections have resumed in universities after several years – some after more than three decades.
He expressed confidence that young voters would turn out in large numbers, as this will be the first time in over 15 years that many of them will be casting their votes.
“Bangladesh will experience a new beginning through the February elections, marking a fresh chapter in our history and a new journey for the nation,” Yunus declared.
During the hour-long discussion, the Chief Adviser and the MEPs discussed various topics, including the government’s reform efforts, the European Union’s continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya people.
The visiting MEPs expressed optimism about the potential significance of the upcoming election for Bangladesh. One lawmaker praised the Chief Adviser and his team for their “remarkable” efforts over the past 14 months.
A Dutch MEP remarked that Bangladesh is among the few countries where “things are heading in the right direction.”
Professor Yunus expressed gratitude to the EU for its ongoing support and called for increased funding to assist over one million Rohingya refugees residing in Bangladesh.
He particularly emphasized the need for aid to reopen schools in refugee camps that were recently shut down due to a funding shortfall.
Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy to the chief adviser, highlighted key labor reforms introduced by the interim government, noting that these steps would significantly strengthen Bangladesh-EU relations.
