Is the election process finally underway?

• The interim government has committed to holding elections after implementing necessary reforms.
• The delay in the election roadmap is causing frustration among political parties seeking clarity on the election timeline.
• The establishment of a new Election Commission is viewed as a positive development for ensuring credible elections.

During its nearly three-and-a-half-month tenure, the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has repeatedly stated that elections will be held after necessary reforms, but political parties, including the BNP, have been pressing for a swift announcement of the election roadmap. These parties expected the roadmap to be revealed soon, but this has not yet happened. On November 17, in his 100-day speech, Yunus stated that the election "train" had already started moving, but its destination would depend on how quickly political parties could reach a consensus. This lack of clarity disappointed many parties, who were hoping for a concrete announcement. Following the speech, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed frustration, arguing that problems would only increase as long as the interim government remained in power, as it was not an elected administration. After the resignation of the previous Election Commission in September, political parties demanded the formation of a new commission as the first step toward elections. On November 16, President Mohammad Shahabuddin appointed a five-member Election Commission, with AMM Nasir Uddin, a former secretary nominated by the BNP, as the chief election commissioner. While the absence of a clear election roadmap in the speech was disappointing, many political leaders see the formation of the new commission as a positive development, hoping it will end a long history of flawed elections. Nasir Uddin emphasized the importance of restoring the people's right to vote. Various political parties, including the BNP, JSD, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Gono Odhikar Parishad, have expressed hope that the new commission will conduct free and fair elections, though they also emphasize the need for state reforms. Political analyst Prof. Zobaida Nasreen acknowledged the pressure on the interim government to hold elections but raised concerns about the neutrality of the new Election Commission, particularly given its ties to the BNP. She stressed that impartiality, along with the creation of a proper voter list, would be essential for fair elections.