Dhaka: Bangladesh may head to the polls as early as February 2026, according to a statement by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The development came after a meeting with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London.
“The Chief Adviser said that he has announced that the elections will be held by the first half of February next year,” a joint statement released after the meeting noted. “If all preparations are completed, the elections could be held even in the week before the start of Ramzan in 2026.”
"In that case, it will be necessary to achieve sufficient progress on reform and justice within that period," it added. Reforms remain a key demand from the BNP as well as the international community watching Bangladesh’s return to democracy after a period of intense upheaval.
The meeting, held in a “very cordial atmosphere”, comes amid a major political realignment in Bangladesh, where Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League remains banned from contesting elections. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, is currently the largest political party.
Tarique Rahman, her son and heir apparent, proposed that elections be held before Ramzan. The London meeting also signaled Tarique Rahman’s likely return to Bangladesh after 16 years in exile, potentially reshaping the political landscape. His return, timed around national elections, could further energize the BNP base.
Hasina ordered to return for trialBangladesh’s war crimes tribunal has ordered former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to return and stand trial on charges constituting crimes against humanity. Hasina, 77, fled Dhaka for India by helicopter in August 2024 amid a massive student-led uprising. She has since refused to comply with an extradition request from Bangladeshi authorities. According to an NDTV report, prosecutors have brought five key charges against her, including abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass killings — all of which are categorised as crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. The trial is set to resume on June 24 and will proceed in Hasina’s absence if she fails to return. |
