THE problem of confidence that earlier surfaced between the government and political parties centring on the time frame for the next general elections appears to have been resolved for the time being at a meeting between the chief adviser to the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, and Tarique Rahman, the acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, in London on June 13. Both the government, which had stood its ground for the elections in the first fortnight of April 2026 鈥� earlier, in fact, sometime between this December and June 2026 鈥� and the political parties, majorly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which stood their ground for the elections by this December, have made welcome concessions. The government and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have now resolved that the elections could be held in mid-February 2026, before Ramadan, the month of fasting for the Muslims, would begin in the second fortnight of the month. This is a welcome development in view of the uncertainties that had been persistent on the political front a couple of weeks ago.
Whilst the Bangladesh Nationalist Party appears happy about the time frame for the elections, there are still some ifs and buts. The joint statement of London suggests that the elections could take place in the week before Ramadan in 2026 provided all preparations were made by then and sufficient progress were made in the democratic reforms of the state and in the justice and accountability of the crimes committed by the Awami League government, toppled on August 5, 2024, and its people during the July鈥揂ugust 2024 uprising. The planned reforms of the state, initiated soon after the installation of the interim government, for a sustainable democratic transition and the trial of the people involved in crimes against humanity during the 2024 student-mass uprising for justice and accountability and effective reparations, setting out a situation for no recurrence of such crimes, are of utmost importance. The government, which earlier talked with political parties on the home ground on the time frame for the elections that caused the problem of confidence, should, meanwhile, again talk with the other political parties on the latest time frame for the general elections having been agreed on at the meeting with the acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in London. The Election Commission, which also talked with political parties on the issue, should talk with the parties again before it announces the election schedule.
Now with the issue apparently having been back on track, the government should carry out reforms and ensure accountability for the crimes but should in no way make a case for delay on the excuse of effecting reforms and ensuring justice. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party should also help the government to carry out the reforms and the trial on time.