Is Bangladesh Ready for Elections Before December?

Dhaka, June 3 (NationPress) Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of the Standing Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), stated on Tuesday that conducting national elections prior to December is indeed feasible, as necessary reforms achieved through consensus could be completed in under a month.

"December is far too late. It is possible to hold the election before then. If the reform proposals, excluding those related to constitutional amendments, are accepted through national consensus, they can be implemented in less than a month," Salahuddin was quoted as saying by local media during a discussion organized by the Gono Odhikar Parishad on Tuesday.

He reiterated their inability to find any valid justification for postponing elections beyond December, adding: "We are all in favor of democracy and prompt elections to establish the people's right to vote. There is not a single reason that justifies holding the election after December."

The interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is under increasing pressure from various political factions, including the BNP, to conduct elections by the end of this year.

The BNP is confident of winning a majority in the elections, while Yunus, currently navigating the tumultuous waters of Bangladesh's volatile politics, insists on implementing democratic reforms first, suggesting a delay of polls until June 2026.

Last month, BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman called on the youth and citizens to ensure that elections occur by December.

"Historically, caretaker governments in Bangladesh have demonstrated that national elections can be organized and executed within three months. However, even after 10 months in power, Yunus's interim administration has yet to announce an election date. The people of Bangladesh deserve better. We seek a nation free from authoritarianism, led by a government elected through a fair vote, and accountable to its citizens," Rahman stated during a virtual BNP rally from London.

"If any of you wish to remain in power, resign from your positions, stand with the people, contest elections, and if successful, return to lead the government," he added.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) of Bangladesh has not explicitly endorsed a December election date. The party’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former lawmaker, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, indicated that they seek a roadmap for elections between December and April.

Notably, a seven-member full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Refat Ahmed, overturned a High Court ruling on Sunday that had previously deemed the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party illegal. This verdict removed all legal obstacles for Jamaat’s participation in national elections.

On Monday, Yunus chaired a meeting of the National Consensus Commission (NCC), where leaders from various political parties reached a growing consensus on the "urgency of timely elections."

The Chief Advisor has just returned from Japan, marking his 10th overseas trip in the last 10 months, while Bangladesh continues to face protests and citizens remain anxious about political and economic developments within the undemocratic and volatile socio-cultural landscape.

Yunus is scheduled for another international trip to London from June 10-13 after Eid.