Bangladesh to hold parliamentary elections in February 2026, interim leader Yunus says
"On behalf of the interim government, I will write a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting that the election be arranged before Ramadan in February 2026," Yunus said in a broadcast on the one-year anniversary of the ousting of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina has been in exile since August 5 last year as she fled the country amid a student-led mass uprising, ending her 15-year rule. She faces trial for crimes against humanity over the hundreds of deaths during the student-led uprising.
The Election Commission will set a specific date for the election.
"We will step into the final and most important phase after delivering this speech to you, and that is the transfer of power to an elected government", he said.
"I urge you all to pray for us so that we can hold a fair and smooth election, enabling all citizens to move forward successfully in building a 'New Bangladesh'", he added.
"On behalf of the government, we will extend all necessary support to ensure that the election is free, peaceful and celebratory in spirit."
Yunus had sought an April election, but major political parties, mainly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, sought a February vote before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people.
Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his past work developing microcredit markets, was flanked by senior leaders of major political parties as he announced a road map aimed at national unity, democratic reforms and inclusive governance. A student group that led the anti-Hasina movement had formed a political party, National Citizen Party, and campaigned for the declaration.
Senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami party were present. Zia is Hasina's archrival, and her party is the main contender for power in the election.
The presence of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party, was especially visible on the streets of the capital, Dhaka. The supporters of its student wing carried the flags of Bangladesh and Palestine.
Bangladesh is at a crossroads, with political parties struggling to find a way forward with inclusive politics. The rise of the Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist forces has drawn attention since Hasina's ouster.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
17 hours ago
- France 24
Pro-Trump nationalist becomes Poland's new president
Nawrocki, 42, a supporter of US President Donald Trump, won a June 1 election in a major blow for the pro-EU government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president. "I will be the voice of those who want a sovereign Poland that is in the EU, but a Poland that is not the EU," he told lawmakers after taking his oath of office. "We must fight those who are pushing the nation towards decline and degradation," he said, citing Ignacy Paderewski, a Polish prime minister from the early 20th century. Nawrocki, a historian and political novice, has branded Tusk's government the "worst" in the history of post-communist Poland. 'He doesn't grovel' Outside the parliament, thousands of people came to show their support for Nawrocki. "He doesn't grovel before Brussels," Jan Smolinski, 75, a retired miner, told AFP, adding: "He's a true Pole, flesh and blood". Marietta Borcz, a 57-year-old dental assistant, said it was "important" to her that Nawrocki "is Catholic and will uphold Christian values". During the election campaign, Nawrocki ruled out easing Poland's near total abortion ban or allowing same-sex civil partnerships. A small group of around 20 protesters held up black roses, saying Nawrocki's inauguration was "a black day for Poland". Stanislawa Sklodowska, 72, a retired economist said his election "reflects poorly on us Poles". Nawrocki, who travelled to Washington to seek Trump's backing during the campaign, won a narrow victory against liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski. The result showed the high degree of political polarisation in the EU and NATO member state, a key supporter of neighbouring Ukraine. Presidents in Poland can initiate as well as veto legislation, and have some influence over the country's foreign and defence policies. 'Annoy us' Relations between government and president are likely to be tense ahead of parliamentary elections planned for 2027. "I have no doubt that Mr Nawrocki will do everything to annoy us," said Tusk, who warned that he would not let Nawrocki "demolish" his government. But in a message on social media on Wednesday, Tusk said he had already worked with three presidents in the past. "What will it be like with the fourth? We'll manage," he wrote. Nawrocki has promised to be "an active president" from the start and has said he wants to "stimulate" the government with various bills. The government holds a parliamentary majority and analysts say the two sides may be forced to make some compromises. "Both parties should realise that engaging in intense confrontation is obviously not the way forward," said Piotr Trudnowski, a member of Klub Jagiellonski, a Christian-Democrat think tank. 'Poland First, Poles First' Ewa Marciniak, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, said that Nawrocki would have to work with the government on foreign policy -- in which he has "no experience". During the election campaign, he highlighted the importance of ties with the United States and his close ties with Trump. "It is precisely from this that he will build his foreign policy, at least initially," Marciniak said. One major difference could be relations with Ukraine. Trudnowski said Nawrocki would "not be as enthusiastic" as his predecessor Andrzej Duda on Ukraine. During his campaign, Nawrocki opposed the idea of NATO membership for Ukraine and criticised Kyiv for not having "shown gratitude for what the Poles have done". Under his slogan "Poland First, Poles First", he was critical of some of the benefits received by the more than one million Ukrainians who have fled to the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated Nawrocki and emphasised the importance of close ties with Poland -- a vital transit country for military and humanitarian supplies to his country as it fights off Russia's invasion. After speaking to Nawrocki by phone last week, Zelensky said the two had agreed to visit each other and seek forms of cooperation "that will bring real results for both our countries and our people". Zelensky said he was "thankful for the readiness to work together and for the assurance of continued support for Ukraine".
France 24
21 hours ago
- France 24
Pro-Trump nationalist to take over as Poland's new president
Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki, a political novice, will be inaugurated after winning a June 1 election in a major blow for Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president. Rallies of support for the new president are expected in Warsaw as Nawrocki begins his five-year mandate with a speech to parliament. Nawrocki, who sought US President Donald Trump's backing during the campaign, is set to take the oath of office and give a speech to parliament at around 0800 GMT. His narrow victory against liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski confirmed the high degree of political polarisation in the EU and NATO member state, a key supporter of neighbouring Ukraine. Presidents in Poland can initiate as well as veto legislation, and have some influence over the country's foreign and defence policies. The outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, had already been at loggerheads with Tusk over many issues, including opposing easing an almost total ban on abortion. 'Annoy us' But relations are likely to be even worse under Nawrocki as the political climate heats up ahead of parliamentary elections planned for 2027, analysts say. "I have no doubt that Mr Nawrocki will do everything to annoy us," said Tusk, who warned that he would not let Nawrocki "demolish" his government. Nawrocki has repeatedly branded Tusk's government as "the worst in the history" of democratic Poland. He has promised to be "an active president" from the start and has said he wants to "stimulate" the government with various bills. In a video posted on social media on Tuesday, he said his inauguration would open "a new chapter in the history of our beloved Poland". "Let us unite," he said. The government holds a parliamentary majority but government and president may be forced to make some compromises. "Both parties should realise that engaging in intense confrontation is obviously not the way forward," said Piotr Trudnowski, a member of Klub Jagiellonski, a Christian-Democrat think tank. 'Poland First, Poles First' Ewa Marciniak, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, said that Nawrocki would have to work with the government on foreign policy -- in which he has "no experience". During the election campaign, he highlighted the importance of ties with the United States and his close ties with Trump. "It is precisely from this that he will build his foreign policy, at least initially," Marciniak said. One major difference could be relations with Ukraine. Trudnowski said Nawrocki would "not be as enthusiastic" as his predecessor on Ukraine. During his campaign, Nawrocki opposed the idea of NATO membership for Ukraine and criticised Kyiv for not having "shown gratitude for what the Poles have done". Under his slogan "Poland First, Poles First", he was critical of some of the benefits received by the more than one million Ukrainians who have fled to the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated Nawrocki and emphasised the importance of close ties with Poland -- a vital transit country for military and humanitarian supplies to his country as it fights off Russia's invasion. After speaking to Nawrocki by phone last week, Zelensky said the two had agreed to visit each other and seek forms of cooperation "that will bring real results for both our countries and our people". Zelensky said he was "thankful for the readiness to work together and for the assurance of continued support for Ukraine".
France 24
21 hours ago
- France 24
Nawrocki: nationalist historian becomes Poland's president
The 42-year-old Nawrocki won a June 1 election with the support of the populist right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023. Nawrocki campaigned under the slogan "Poland first, Poles first". While he has pledged to continue Poland's support for neighbouring Ukraine against Russia's invasion, he has denounced the benefits given to war refugees. He said in a campaign video in April that "social benefits will be above all for Poles" and that "in queues for doctors and clinics, Polish citizens must have priority". In May, he claimed Ukraine "has not shown gratitude for what Poles have done" and accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of "insolence". He opposes Ukraine's bid to join NATO. After speaking with Nawrocki last week, Zelensky said he looked forward to working together with the Polish leader. Photos with Trump Nawrocki is an admirer of Donald Trump and has said Poland should focus on shaping and leading Europe's relations with the US president. He met Trump at the White House in May and claimed Trump had told him: "You will win". The two were shown giving a thumbs up in photos released by the White House. Some lawmakers from the governing coalition at the time accused Trump of election interference. Nawrocki has called for controls on the border with Germany to keep out migrants, and would like Berlin to pay wartime reparations to Poland. While wooing voters during the campaign, Nawrocki signed an eight-point pledge prepared by far-right leader Slawomir Mentzen. The election campaign also saw Nawrocki embroiled in a series of scandals. While arguing against a property tax, he claimed to own one flat only. Later it was revealed he had acquired a second one through a convoluted deal with an elderly man. A bombshell news report also alleged he had arranged prostitutes for guests while working as a hotel security guard. Nawrocki called the accusations "a bunch of lies" and said he would sue the news site. Born in the Baltic port city of Gdansk, Nawrocki boxed and played football in his youth before earning a PhD in history and an MBA. He served as the director of the World War II museum in Gdansk from 2017 to 2021. Since then, he has led the Institute of National Remembrance, which investigates Nazi and communist-era crimes. His research focused on Poland's anti-communist opposition, organised crime during the communist era and sports history. Last year, Russia added Nawrocki to its wanted list for his alleged efforts to remove Soviet-era monuments in Poland. Nawrocki said he had obtained a gun licence and firearm after winding up in Russia's crosshairs. Dual identity Nawrocki has written several books, including one under a pen name that landed him in an unusual controversy. In 2018, he secretly published a book about the communist-era gangster Nikodem Skotarczak using the pseudonym "Tadeusz Batyr". That same year, a blurred and voice-altered Batyr appeared on state television claiming Nawrocki had inspired the book. Nawrocki later wrote on social media that Batyr had sought his advice and "thanked me with an interesting book, which I recommend". But Polish media recently uncovered that Batyr and Nawrocki were one and the same. Political opponents seized on the revelation. Nawrocki has also faced accusations of ties to gangsters and neo-Nazis, which he has rejected as "deep manipulation", insisting his contacts were for professional purposes. "No one has ever heard a good word from me about Nazism," he said. Nawrocki speaks English and still boxes in his spare time. He has said Poland needs "a strong president for tough times". He lives with his wife, Marta, and has two children and an adult stepson.
