Election Date Announcement Expected in Early August

Dhaka, July 28, 2025: The interim government is likely to announce the schedule for the national election in the first week of August, coinciding with the anniversary of the mass uprising. According to multiple government sources, the Chief Adviser may make this announcement through a national address.

Sources further revealed that the government will request the Election Commission (EC) to prepare for holding the election in February. A formal communication regarding this will be sent to the EC in the first week of August. Meanwhile, it is almost certain that the July Charter, based on a consensus among political parties, will be announced by August 5. The National Consensus Commission has already prepared a draft of the July Charter. The commission aims to conclude the second round of discussions with political parties by July 31. Some parties have raised demands for local government elections and a proportional representation (PR) system before the national election, which has been met with skepticism by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). On Sunday, Professor Ali Riaz, co-chair of the National Consensus Commission, stated that the draft of the July Charter would be shared with political parties by Monday. He emphasized that only significant objections would lead to further discussions, and the charter would include a preamble and commitments based on inputs from the parties. To ensure the July Charter’s finalization is not disrupted, the government is keen to reassure political parties about the election timeline. **Election Timeline Discussions** On June 13, BNP’s acting chairman Tariq Rahman met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in London. A joint statement issued after the meeting suggested that the election could be held in early February 2026, before the start of Ramadan, provided sufficient progress is made on reforms and justice. However, the lack of visible progress and clear communication from the government to the EC has created doubts among BNP leaders. Some parties’ demands for local elections and PR systems have further fueled skepticism. Since July 22, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has held three rounds of meetings with various political parties. On July 26, he met with leaders of 14 parties and alliances. Speaking to the media afterward, Mostafa Jamal Haider, chairman of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) and coordinator of the 12-party alliance, said, “The Chief Adviser categorically stated that he will announce the election timeline and date within the next four to five days. This is the most fruitful outcome of the discussions. The government understands that elections are the only solution to the ongoing unrest.” However, the Chief Adviser’s press wing, in a statement sent to the media, did not explicitly mention the election date announcement but highlighted concerns about disruptive forces attempting to derail the election process. The Chief Adviser urged all anti-fascist forces to remain united. **Party Reactions** BNP has welcomed the prospect of an election timeline announcement. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told *Prothom Alo* on Sunday, “If the Chief Adviser announces the election timeline within the next few days, we will be pleased, as this has been our demand.” However, mixed reactions persist. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, deputy amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, expressed concerns, stating, “We are not clear about what the Chief Adviser actually said. Announcing a specific election date for February would be premature. Necessary reforms and justice for the mass killings are preconditions for the election. Announcing the date before the July Charter would disregard its spirit. Without visible reforms and justice, it would be like putting the cart before the horse.” Ariful Islam Adib, senior joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that if the July Declaration and Charter are finalized within the next four to five days, there would be no objection to announcing the election date. The government is focused on ensuring that the finalization of the July Charter proceeds smoothly by providing political parties with clear assurances about the election timeline.