The general elections in Bangladesh will be held in the first half of April 2026, Chief Adviser of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, announced on Friday.
The announcement came amid demands from major political parties to hold polls by December.
Addressing the nation on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha on Friday, Yunus stated that the national elections would be held in the first half of April 2026.
He also said that the country’s Election Commission will provide a roadmap for next year’s polls in the coming months.
“The government has held discussions with all parties to organise the most free, fair, competitive and acceptable elections in history. In addition, after reviewing the ongoing reform activities related to justice, reform and elections, I am announcing to the people of the country today that the next national elections will be held on a day in the first half of April 2026,” Yunus said.
“Our goal is to prevent future crises. That requires institutional reform. Without ensuring good governance in the institutions directly linked to the electoral process, all the sacrifices made by students and citizens will be in vain,” the 84-year-old Nobel Laureate said.
Yunus said his administration took over to carry out three mandates “justice, reform and elections”.
The timing of the general elections in Bangladesh has been a point of debate between Yunus and the opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday said people are “disappointed” by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s announcement to hold elections in April 2026.
BNP’s national standing committee reiterated its proposal to hold the election by December this year, taking into consideration Ramadan, secondary and higher secondary or equivalent examinations, and weather conditions.
