As Bangladesh braces for its upcoming elections in December, the nation prepares for its first general vote since the dramatic ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah confirmed the timeline on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgency of preparations as the interim government moves forward.
Leading this transitional administration is Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, who took charge in August following Hasina’s flight from Dhaka amid widespread student-led protests demanding her resignation. Since then, Yunus’s government has initiated a series of reforms aimed at restoring electoral integrity.
In November, the newly appointed five-member election commission convened with foreign envoys to outline its plans for the polls. “We have communicated that our preparations are focused on the earliest possible election date, with December in mind,” Sanaullah stated after the meeting. He underscored that organizing the national election is the commission’s top priority.
While Yunus has suggested that elections could potentially be held by late 2025 or early 2026, contingent upon necessary electoral reforms, the immediate focus remains on December. Key to these reforms is the creation of a new voter list, a process expected to take several months.
Hasina’s decade and a half of rule was marred by allegations of politicizing essential government institutions, including the Election Commission. A recent report from a special commission on electoral reforms accused Hasina of orchestrating electoral manipulation in the last three national elections and proposed over 200 recommendations to enhance the voting system.
Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of the National Election Monitoring Council, highlighted the lack of meaningful participation in previous elections. “The 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections were marked by significant concerns regarding their legitimacy, primarily due to the absence of opposition,” he remarked.
He urged the authorities to act swiftly, stating, “Considering the current law and order situation, elections should be organized as soon as possible. With goodwill and determination from those in power, nothing is impossible.” As the nation prepares for this pivotal moment, all eyes are on Bangladesh to see how it navigates its path to democracy.
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