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Shortly after the EC’s announcement, the NCP issued a statement saying the roadmap indicated the interim government’s ‘breach of promise’.
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus (IMAGE: AFP)
Bangladesh’s top election authority on Thursday unveiled a detailed roadmap for the upcoming general election, set to be held in February next year. The Election Commission (EC) stated that the official election schedule will be announced at least 60 days before the voting date.
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Election Commission’s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said at a press briefing,”The Chief Adviser’s Office has asked us to hold the election before Ramadan. If I am not mistaken, Ramadan will begin on February 17 or 18. From this, you can calculate the probable election date.”
Under the roadmap, the EC plans to hold discussions with political parties and other stakeholders by the end of September, with the entire consultation process expected to take one to one and a half months, Ahmed added.
The EC announced the roadmap prioritising 24 key tasks relating to the amendment of the relevant laws like the Representation of the People Order (RPO), Delimitation of Constituencies Act, the Voter List Act, the Election Officers (Special Provisions) Act 1991 and the Election Commission Secretariat Act 2009.
Ahmed said that the other issues to be settled included finalisation of the voter list in phases, policy for domestic and foreign observers and journalists, and registration of new political parties.
The EC is expected to announce the election schedule by the second or third week of December, in line with the current timeline.
Earlier, in a televised national address on August 5, Yunus had announced that the general elections would be held before Ramadan.
NCP Expresses Concerns
Shortly after the EC’s announcement, the NCP issued a statement saying the roadmap indicated the interim government’s “breach of promise.”
“Announcing the roadmap before declaring the implementation of the ‘July Charter’ is tantamount to breaking promises,” said Ariful Islam Adeeb, former SAD leader and now NCP’s Joint Convener, at a press conference.
Flanked by other party leaders, Adeeb warned: “This move could create future crises for which the government must bear responsibility.”
The NCP has been demanding the implementation of the “July Charter,” which calls for the formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution, replacing the current 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh.
Both Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) are also demanding that the trial of Sheikh Hasina and members of her former administration be completed, accusing them of involvement in suppressing last year’s mass uprising.
Hasina is currently facing trial in absentia at the International Crimes Tribunal on multiple charges.
In the political vacuum left by the disbanding of the Awami League’s activities—through an executive order issued by the interim government—former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as the largest political force.
Although Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and his advisers have repeatedly assured that elections will be free, fair, and held within the declared timeline, a sense of unease persists among political parties, largely due to the NCP’s statements and actions, which have raised questions about the credibility of the electoral process.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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