Following the fall of the autocratic Sheikh Hasina government due to a student-people uprising, an interim government took charge under the leadership of Professor Muhammad Yunus.
In a speech to the nation on December 16, Chief Advisor Professor Yunus mentioned a possible timeline for national elections.
He stated that if minimal reforms were undertaken, elections could be held in December 2025; with more extensive reforms, elections could take place by mid-2026.
Earlier, in an interview with Reuters in September last year, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman had pledged support for the government to complete key reforms within 18 months, aiming for elections by November-December 2025.
Meanwhile, M. Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Interim Government for the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, stated in a newspaper interview:
"Unless I am very wrong, we are getting indications that the election schedule might be announced around October, elections could be held in December, and a new government could be formed by January."
Political analysts suggest that although reforms are being emphasized, law and order have not yet fully come under government control.
Several incidents of unrest have occurred, leading to uncertainty and anxiety among the public.
There is concern that if an elected government is not formed soon, the situation could take a different turn.
There is also consideration of holding local government elections in August-September before the national elections.
However, this proposal has sparked significant political disagreement. Jamaat-e-Islami and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have opposed this idea.
The Local Government Reform Commission has already submitted a summary of its recommendations to the government.
Two key factors are driving the push for local elections before the national polls: After the fall of the autocratic Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 due to the student-people uprising, many local government representatives went into hiding.
Eventually, the interim government dismissed most of them. With no elected representatives in place, the general public has been deprived of various essential services.
And, conducting local elections first would serve as a test for the new Election Commission, providing both experience and an opportunity for the government to assess the effectiveness of the proposed electoral reforms.
However, the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) believes that holding local elections before the national polls could lead to widespread conflict across the country.
The party has described the push for early local elections as an attempt to destabilize the nation.
In recent meetings with various political parties, the Election Commission (EC) has announced that it is preparing for elections in December, as declared by the Chief Advisor.
No decision regarding local elections has yet been communicated to the EC by the government. The EC has already directed district commissioners to begin preparations for the upcoming elections.
Sources indicate that law and order remains a major concern ahead of the elections. The police force, in particular, has not yet fully returned to normal functioning.
Administrative discipline has also not been fully restored. The role of the police and administration will be crucial during the elections, and ensuring their full efficiency and responsiveness remains a significant challenge.
There are doubts about how effectively the police will perform their duties under the current circumstances.
Although the armed forces are already deployed to support the civil administration, they also serve as the primary strike force during national elections.
As a result, the military’s role in maintaining law and order will become even more vital in the upcoming election.
