By: Prof. Bawa Singh / Dr. Mudasir Mubarik
The prospect of holding general elections in Bangladesh, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and exile in August 2024, is being shaped by the contradictions between the complex actors/factors. Political parties like Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the military are demanding holding early elections, whereas on the other hand, Muhammad Yunus, supported by allied parties such as the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami, intended to delay the elections until June, 2026 under the framework of his reform agenda. Against this background, a critical question has emerged: can elections be held by December 2025 or can put it off until June 2026?
Under the leadership of Khaleda Zia, the BNP, has fortified its demand for Bangladesh’s general elections by December 2025. The BNP has been mobilizing the public support through large-scale rallies in Dhaka. The BNP is arguing that holding a prompt election is essential to restore public trust and democratic legitimacy and prevent the repeat of past electoral irregularities of the Hasina government. The party emphasized the need for a free, fair and inclusive election to reflect the public will. The BNP claims that a clearly defined election roadmap is critical to stabilizing the current volatile political environment in the country.
The military under the leadership of its General Waker-Uz-Zaman is also pushing for a time-bound election by December- 2025. The military aligns with the BNP proposed timeline, citing the issue of rising public disorder since the July 2024 police strike. In his speech, General Waker-Uz-Zaman reiterated that the Bangladesh Military will never engage in any activities that would compromise the national sovereignty. He also assured the interim regime that all ranks of army will remain neutral while carrying out their electoral duties with honesty and integrity.
On June 2, 2025, a National Consensus Commission meeting was held by Yunus, in which more than 20 political parties have participated. These parties have expressed a preference for specific date for elections. This consensus reflects some broad political alignments on the urgency of restoring elected government through elections scheduled for December 2025. It has placed significant pressure on Yunus to re-adjust his timeline. However, the logistical constraints, such as the absence of an election commission, posing the significant political challenges. Moreover, he faces multiple challenges in holding timely elections in Bangladesh which included the urgent need for electoral and constitutional reforms, deep-rooted corruption and institutional decay from the previous regime. These challenges complicated by the prospect of holding timely elections. Concomitantly, almost all parties argue that there are no valid reasons to delay the elections beyond December.
Conversely, Yunus’s interim government has prioritizing the electoral reform agenda. He is not ready to hold elections by 2025, rather proposed a timeline to hold elections by June 2026. He reiterated that the essential electoral reforms, encompassing the updated voter lists, can facilitate holding the elections by December 2025. While leaving to Japan, once gain he shared his timeframe of elections claiming that politicians are impatient for power.
In the beginning, Yunus commands support among youth but now he started facing public impatience due to lack of a clear elections date and slow progress on reforms. It indicates that that the Bangladeshi public, particularly youth, is frustrated with the unelected government’s pace, with protests signalled the rising tensions. Concomitantly, the external pressure, coupled with domestic demands, may further put pressure on Yunus to prioritize minimal reforms to meet the earlier deadline. India backs early election elections emphasizing the need for free, fair, and inclusive elections. It is aligning with the BNP and military’s call for a December 2025 timeline.
Ultimately, the prospects for elections contingent upon, how Yunus navigates the competing demands for electoral reforms and urgency. There are two scenarios appear likely. First, if Yunus focus on minimum essential reforms—such as updating voter lists and constituting an elections commission—he can feasibly hold elections by December 2025, aligning with political consensus. Second, if Yunus insists on comprehensive electoral, judicial reforms, administrative structures and ensuring de-politicization, elections may be postponed until June 2026, risking heightened protests and instability. Ultimately, Bangladesh’s future hinges on balancing the democratic restoration and institutional reform. The holding of elections by deadline can bring political stability and global credibility, while putting off of the same risk unrest, economic strain, and erosion of public trust.
Prof. Bawa Singh is at the Department of South and central Asian Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. Dr. Mudasir Mubarik is Lecturer Political Science (Academic Arrangement); Govt. Degree College Soibugh, Budgam, Kashmir.
