Bangladesh to hold elections in February 2026, says interim leader Muhammad Yunus

Dhaka (Web Desk): Bangladesh will hold its next general elections in February 2026, interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced on Tuesday, marking the first national vote since last year’s mass uprising that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Speaking on the one-year anniversary of the uprising, Yunus said the caretaker government would formally request the Chief Election Commissioner to schedule the elections before the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.

“On behalf of the interim government, I will write a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting that the election be arranged before Ramadan in February 2026,” Yunus said during a nationally broadcast speech.

Yunus, 85, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been serving as chief adviser to the caretaker government since the political upheaval last year. He reiterated his earlier promise to step down once an elected government takes office.

“We are now entering the final and most important phase of our responsibility — the peaceful transfer of power to an elected government,” he said.

Although Yunus had previously suggested April 2026 as the likely date for elections, pressure from political parties pushed the caretaker government to bring the timeline forward. Many had insisted that the polls be held before Ramadan to ensure greater voter participation.

In his address, Yunus called for national unity and support for a peaceful democratic transition.

“I urge you all to pray for us so that we can hold a fair and smooth election, enabling all citizens to move forward successfully in building a 'New Bangladesh',” he said. “On behalf of the government, we will extend all necessary support to ensure that the election is free, peaceful, and celebratory in spirit.”

The announcement sets the stage for what many hope will be a return to democratic stability in the South Asian nation of over 170 million people.