Political leaders on Friday expressed mixed reactions over chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus鈥檚 announcement that the next national election would be held on any day in the first half of April 2026.
Professor Yunus, in a televised speech on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, made this announcement Friday evening.
Some of the politicians termed the schedule logical given the time required for reforms and the trial of the individuals linked to the ousted Awami League regime for committing crimes against humanity during the July-August uprising but some others termed it illogical saying that the announcement failed to fulfill people鈥檚 expectations and impractical due to Ramadan and weather challenges.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that the chief adviser鈥檚 announcement failed to meet the expectations of the nation.
鈥極ver 50 parties have demanded the election by December 2025. Ignoring that, the election was announced for a time when public examinations will be held and the weather will not be favourable,鈥� he said.
He added that the 45-day period after an announcement of the election schedule for the 2026 national elections in April, would fall within the Ramadan month. 鈥楾his time period will be inconvenient for the election campaign. 鈥�
鈥楾he time for holding the national elections could have been January,鈥� Salahuddin said.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami鈥檚 publicity secretary Matiur Rahman Akand said that his party ameer had already said that it would be better to hold the elections before Ramadan 2026, or by April at the latest.
鈥業n that context, the chief adviser鈥檚 announcement seems logical, as this time is necessary to carry out essential reforms for the elections. However, visible progress in the ongoing trials on crimes against humanity must be reached to an acceptable level,鈥� Matiur said.
Ganosamhati Andolan in a statement on Friday said that given the adverse weather, public examinations and the month of Ramadan preceding April 2026, there are concerns about how favorable and realistic this timing would be for holding elections.
鈥榃e believe further discussion with stakeholders on this matter would be constructive,鈥� said the statement.
Regarding the management of the Chattogram Port by foreign entities, the party said, 鈥楾he call made by the chief adviser to 鈥渞esist鈥� movement against the government move is not appropriate. Instead, the government should engage all stakeholders in discussions on this issue.鈥�
The Communist Party of Bangladesh鈥檚 general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said, 鈥楩inally a specific timeframe for the national election has been announced. This appears to be a step forward. However, it does not reflect people鈥檚 aspirations.鈥�
He continued that the consensus-centric discussions with most political parties and the general public suggested that people wanted to see an elected government by December.
Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, said that the chief adviser did not provide any reasonable justification for holding the election in April 2026.
鈥楾he political parties had said that if reforms and the process of trials on crimes against humanity were expedited, visible progress could have been made by December. Yet he announced April 2026 for the next election, which is not a suitable time due to unfavorable weather,鈥� he said.
Amar Bangladesh Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju and secretary general Asaduzzaman Fuad, in a joint statement, said that the chief adviser鈥檚 announcement did not align with their earlier proposal.
鈥楾here are concerns that holding elections in April might cause some weather-related issues. However, since he has addressed the need for overall preparation and emphasised the relevance of time, we wish to maintain a cooperative stance toward his administration,鈥� they said.
National Citizen Party joint convener Sarwar Tusher said that his party took the announcement positively.
鈥業f the July Declaration and the July Charter are implemented within the promised timeframe, the NCP will not object to the election being held in April 2026,鈥� he said.
He added that the July Charter would require a Constituent Assembly to be implemented.
鈥楾o ensure a free and fair election, a level playing field must be guaranteed. The Election Commission must be reconstituted based on the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Commission, as the existing commission has lost its neutrality,鈥� Tusher said.
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