Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has announced that the next national elections will be held between December 2025 and June 2026. His comments came during a visit to Japan, as pressure increases on the interim government to set an election date.Speaking at a public event in Tokyo, Yunus said elections could take place as early as December this year, depending on the speed of ongoing reforms. “When elections take place an elected government takes over responsibility, and we hand it over to them. People are insisting to tell them when the elections will be because the politicians are very impatient to get to their seats of power,” said Yunus, according to the Dhaka Tribune.He added that if reforms are slow, the vote may be pushed to the latest possible date of June 2026. “The longer time cannot continue endlessly. Must finish it up by June 2026.”At the same time, the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a large rally in Dhaka demanding the “restoration of political rights of youth” and calling for early elections.Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of BNP, spoke during the rally via video message from London. He said the interim government, which took over after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, has failed to announce an election date even after 10 months in power.“Excuses are already being made regarding the national elections. Even after 10 months, the interim government has not announced the election date,” he said.He also pointed out that in the past, elections were held within three months of a caretaker government taking office.
