When Will Next Election Happen

Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5 due to student and public protests, a recurring question among the people of Bangladesh has been: when will the next parliamentary election take place? The main opposition party, BNP, has been urging the interim government to announce an electoral roadmap, but no such roadmap has been issued so far.

In his address to the nation after assuming office, Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus stated that the timing of the elections is entirely a political decision and not theirs to make. He emphasized that the public should determine when they will relinquish power.

Following initial talks with political parties, it was announced that elections would be held after necessary reforms in critical areas of governance. To this end, ten commissions have been formed to address reforms in the electoral system, public administration, police, judiciary, anti-corruption commission, constitutional amendments, health, and more.

The commissions are expected to submit their reports by December, after which the reform process is set to begin. However, the government has not clarified how long the reforms will take or when elections may occur.

Statements on Elections

Military Chief’s Remarks  
On August 8, shortly after the interim government took power, Bangladesh's Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman gave an interview to Reuters, offering the first indication of a timeframe for the next parliamentary elections. He stated that he would support Yunus's government in completing necessary reforms to ensure elections could occur within the next eighteen months, regardless of the circumstances.

He asserted that the transition to a democratic process should ideally take place within one to one-and-a-half years, but also urged patience.

Government’s Response
The government characterized the Army Chief's comments as his personal opinion. A week later, at a press conference, the Chief Advisor's office stated that the timing of the elections would depend on the reports from the reform commissions and subsequent political discussions.

On September 30, the Chief Advisor's press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, stated that it is not possible to determine if the elections would occur in 16, 12, or 8 months, reiterating that the Chief Advisor has always said the timing of elections will be decided by the people.

Later, in an interview with Voice of America, Professor Yunus said that the election date would be announced when they are ready.

In a separate interview with NPR, Yunus discussed the duration of the interim government and election planning, acknowledging the debate around whether 18 months would be sufficient to complete the necessary reforms.

Legal Advisor’s Comments
On October 17, the interim government's legal advisor, Dr. Asif Nazrul, indicated that elections might be possible within the next year. He stressed the need for the new election commission to update the voter list to avoid fraudulent elections.

Following his remarks, discussions regarding the potential election timeline intensified, with BNP and other political parties demanding an official announcement of the election date.

Political Party Positions 
Despite the ongoing discussions, there are noticeable differences among political parties regarding the election timeline. While the government insists on reforms before elections, the BNP is calling for immediate voting.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the sooner elections are held, the better for the nation. He emphasized the necessity of public participation in the reform process, which is why elections are needed.

The BNP has reiterated its demand for a roadmap for elections following discussions with the Chief Advisor. They believe that the government's inconsistent statements about the election timeline are causing public confusion.

BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has drawn attention to this uncertainty, stating that discrepancies in the government's messages regarding such a crucial issue lead to public doubts. 

Members of the BNP advisory council have pointed out that the absence of a clear roadmap is evident in the varying statements from government officials. 

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami has been pushing for reforms before the elections, stating that comprehensive changes are needed to ensure free and fair elections.

Other parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Gano Forum, and Gono Adhikar Parishad, also believe elections should occur only after necessary reforms are completed. 

During discussions with the Chief Advisor, Gano Forum leader Dr. Kamal Hossain stressed the need for prompt elections following institutional reforms. 

Leaders from the Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party and a 12-party alliance have expressed that the next parliamentary elections should take place by 2025.

Source: BBC Bangla