Sunday, 09 March, 2025
The next general election could be held in December if political parties agree to proceed with minor reforms, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has stated.
However, if the reform process takes longer, the election may be postponed by up to six months, he warned.
Yunus discussed the timing of the parliamentary polls during a meeting with former U.S. diplomats William B. Milam and Jon Danilowicz at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday.
The discussions also touched on Bangladesh-US relations, the Rohingya crisis, the challenges posed by declining international aid for refugees, efforts to recover funds laundered under the previous administration, and the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
The Yunus-led interim administration assumed power with a commitment to reform the state following the mass uprising that led to the ouster of the Awami League government.
Reform commissions established by the government have already submitted their recommendations, which are now under discussion with political parties.
“The political parties will sign the July Charter after completing dialogues on the six commissions' recommended reforms. This charter will guide us forward,” the chief advisor said.
He added that the caretaker administration would implement some of the charter’s recommendations while the rest would be carried out by the next elected government.
The chief advisor’s press wing said the meeting with Milam, president of Right to Freedom, and Danilowicz, its executive director, lasted nearly an hour.
Milam served as the U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh in the early 1990s, while Danilowicz previously held the position of deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Dhaka.
Milam commended the interim government’s reform efforts, noting that the July Uprising had created a crucial opportunity for meaningful reforms and paved the way for the establishment of a true democracy in Bangladesh.
Danilowicz underscored the importance of highlighting positive developments in Bangladesh while actively countering misinformation and fake news.
The two diplomats also discussed plans to expand Right to Freedom’s activities in Bangladesh, expressing the organization’s keen interest in supporting the country’s democratic transition.
Yunus welcomed their efforts and acknowledged the organization’s role in promoting human rights and democratic values.
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The next general election could be held in December if political parties agree to proceed with minor reforms, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has stated.
However, if the reform process takes longer, the election may be postponed by up to six months, he warned.
Yunus discussed the timing of the parliamentary polls during a meeting with former U.S. diplomats William B. Milam and Jon Danilowicz at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday.
The discussions also touched on Bangladesh-US relations, the Rohingya crisis, the challenges posed by declining international aid for refugees, efforts to recover funds laundered under the previous administration, and the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
The Yunus-led interim administration assumed power with a commitment to reform the state following the mass uprising that led to the ouster of the Awami League government.
Reform commissions established by the government have already submitted their recommendations, which are now under discussion with political parties.
“The political parties will sign the July Charter after completing dialogues on the six commissions' recommended reforms. This charter will guide us forward,” the chief advisor said.
He added that the caretaker administration would implement some of the charter’s recommendations while the rest would be carried out by the next elected government.
The chief advisor’s press wing said the meeting with Milam, president of Right to Freedom, and Danilowicz, its executive director, lasted nearly an hour.
Milam served as the U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh in the early 1990s, while Danilowicz previously held the position of deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Dhaka.
Milam commended the interim government’s reform efforts, noting that the July Uprising had created a crucial opportunity for meaningful reforms and paved the way for the establishment of a true democracy in Bangladesh.
Danilowicz underscored the importance of highlighting positive developments in Bangladesh while actively countering misinformation and fake news.
The two diplomats also discussed plans to expand Right to Freedom’s activities in Bangladesh, expressing the organization’s keen interest in supporting the country’s democratic transition.
Yunus welcomed their efforts and acknowledged the organization’s role in promoting human rights and democratic values.
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