UN Envoy Urges Government and Political Parties to Establish Election Timeline

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Gwen Lewis, emphasized that the timing of Bangladesh's next general election will be decided by the current government and political parties. 

“We are prepared to provide technical assistance to ensure the election is free, fair, and credible, but we have no intention of commenting on the election timeline,” Lewis stated after meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin in Dhaka on Tuesday. 

The meeting was attended by Lewis and a visiting expert UN delegation. 

Separately, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the interim government to hold the national election by August this year for the country’s greater benefit. 

“We have met with the Election Commission and assured them of our support based on their needs. Our survey team is actively working to support this effort,” Fakhrul noted during a press conference. 

The UN survey team is scheduled to visit Chattogram tomorrow to meet with stakeholders, including political parties, civil society representatives, and experts, and will later present their findings. Lewis clarified that the UN’s role is limited to supporting a fair electoral process. 

Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of the country on August 8 following the student-led July-August uprising that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. 

In a recent national address, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced that the 13th parliamentary elections would be held either in late 2025 or early 2026. However, the BNP and other political parties rejected this proposed timeline, demanding the election be held sooner. 

On Tuesday, BNP leader Fakhrul reiterated that the national election must take place by mid-2025, urging the government, Election Commission, and all political parties to ensure elections occur by July or August to uphold the country’s democratic stability.