February polls to be peaceful, festive despite attempts to delay: Prof Yunus

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to holding a ‘free, fair, transparent and festive’ general election in the first half of February next year.

 “The general election will be peaceful, fair, transparent and festive,” he said, adding that the interim government remains determined to hold it as scheduled, though ‘certain forces’ are still attempting to delay the polls.

Prof Yunus made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) led by Mounir Satouri, held at the State Guest House Jamuna, said his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.

“We have already announced the timeline for the election. It will be held in early February, just before Ramadan,” the Chief Adviser told the visiting delegation.

Prof Yunus noted growing enthusiasm among the public, particularly the youth, as student body elections have resumed in universities after years—some after more than three decades.

He expressed confidence that young voters would turn out in record numbers, as this will be the first time in over 15 years that many of them will be casting their ballots.

“Bangladesh will witness a new beginning through the February election. It will mark a new chapter in our history, a new journey for the nation,” he said.

During the hour-long discussion, the Chief Adviser and the MEPs exchanged views on the government’s reform initiatives, the European Union’s continued support for Bangladesh’s development and democratic transition, and the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

The visiting MEPs expressed optimism that the upcoming election could be a pivotal moment for Bangladesh. One lawmaker praised the Chief Adviser and his team’s “amazing” efforts over the past 14 months.

A Dutch MEP remarked that Bangladesh may be among the few countries where “things are moving in the right direction.”

Prof Yunus thanked the EU for its steadfast support and called for increased funding for the more than one million Rohingya refugees residing in Bangladesh.

He, in particular, urged assistance to help reopen schools in the camps, which were recently shut down due to an aid shortfall.

Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser, highlighted key labour reforms implemented by the interim government, noting that these steps would be instrumental in strengthening Bangladesh-EU relations.