Muhammad Yunus announces Bangladesh elections in February, 2026; Sheikh Hasina’s party can…

Dhaka: In a significant geopolitical development, Bangladesh is set to head for national elections in February next year. Marking a key step in the country’s political transition, interim government chief Muhammad Yunus recently announced the decision amid the national and global pressure to hold the elections. It should also be noted that the announcement follows weeks of mounting pressure from political parties demanding a timeline for elections after months of uncertainty.

Election announcement starts violence in Dhaka

Soon after Yunus’s statement, violence erupted in Dhaka, where the Sheikh Hasina’s party Awami League’s central office was set on fire, underscoring rising tensions ahead of the polls. According to reports in Prothom Alo, Yunus said the National Consensus Commission had presented two key recommendations to guide the interim administration in implementing the July National Charter.

Under the proposal, the government will issue a special order to introduce the charter’s constitutional reforms, followed by a nationwide referendum. Yunus confirmed that both the general election and the referendum will be held on the same day.

Why is Yunus led interim govt struggling to hold Bangladesh together?

With elections approaching in Bangladesh, the Chief Advisor to the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, is struggling to keep the country of 170 million people united, a report detailed .It added that sectarian violence has become commonplace amid concerns over a surge in radical Islamism, while the Awami League alleged that several of its members have been killed.

“And Yunus himself is facing accusations of abusing power and of lawfare after his government banned the Awami League from elections set to be held in February, blaming it for a ‘co-ordinated violent activity’ during the deadly protests last year,” a report in The Irish Times detailed.

(With inputs from agencies)