In a high-level meeting held in London, Interim Government’s Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus informed BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman that if all preparations are completed, the national election could be held even in the week before the holy month of Ramadan begins in 2026 are likely in the first half of February.
However, he emphasized that this would require significant progress on political reforms and justice initiatives beforehand. The meeting took place on Friday at the Dorchester Hotel in London, starting at 9:00 AM local time (2:00 PM Bangladesh time) and ending at 10:30 AM (3:30 PM Bangladesh time). A joint statement was released later around 4:00 PM Bangladesh time.
According to the statement, the discussion between Professor Yunus and Tarique Rahman was held in a “very cordial environment.” Tarique proposed that the election be held before Ramadan next year. He mentioned that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also believes this would be an appropriate time for the polls.
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In response, Professor Yunus stated that he had already announced plans for the election to be held by early April 2026. If conditions allow, he said, the election could be brought forward to the week preceding Ramadan. However, achieving that timeline would depend on measurable progress in institutional reforms and ongoing efforts to ensure justice.
The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman, Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, and BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Humayun Kabir.
Tarique Rahman welcomed the Chief Advisor’s position and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the party. Professor Yunus also thanked Tarique Rahman for the constructive dialogue.
