Yunus assures UK MP that elections in Bangladesh will be free and fair
Two potential timelines for the next national election have been proposed: December 2025 or mid-2026.
Prof Yunus Assures British MP of Free and Fair Elections in Bangladesh
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus assured British MP Rupa Huq today that the upcoming general election in Bangladesh would be free and fair. During their meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna, Prof Yunus outlined two potential timelines for the election: December 2025 or mid-2026. He noted, "The election date depends on the extent of reforms desired by the people."
Rupa Huq expressed her willingness to return to Bangladesh to observe the election. Prof Yunus remarked on the challenges of the past, stating, "People were denied their right to vote in the last three elections. There was a fake parliament, fake MPs, and a fake Speaker." He emphasized that the country had now regained its voice, which had previously been forcibly suppressed.
Huq inquired about the tentative election date, the interim government's reform measures, and how political parties were involved in these initiatives. She expressed optimism, saying she was encouraged by the progress she observed in "Bangladesh 2.0." Prof Yunus also provided insights into the July mass uprising and the repression experienced under the regime of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
James Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director at the British High Commission in Dhaka, was also present at the meeting.
Earlier, Rupa Huq joined a UK business delegation that met with Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, BIDA Chairman Ashik Mahmud Chowdhury, and Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed. The discussions focused on trade and investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
The UKBCCI delegation, led by Chairman Iqbal Ahmed OBE and President MG Moula Mia, is currently on a three-day visit to Bangladesh. Lutfey Siddiqi invited British investors, including those of Bangladeshi origin, to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the interim government's sweeping reforms aimed at boosting foreign direct investment.
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