Elections will be held on February 12, chief adviser informs US diplomats

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday reiterated his government’s firm commitment to holding the general elections and the referendum on schedule on 12 February.

He made the remarks during a meeting with two former senior US diplomats—Albert Gombis and Morse Tan, both of whom served during the Donald Trump administration—at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka late Monday night.

Prof Yunus said a wave of fake news and deliberate misinformation had created confusion about the polls, but stressed that the Interim Government would not deviate from the announced timeline and would hand over power to a democratically elected government after the results.

“No matter who says what, elections will be held on 12 February—not a day earlier or later,” he said, adding that the vote would be free, fair, peaceful and held in a festive atmosphere.

He assured that the Interim Government would remain fully neutral, ensuring an impartial administration and a level playing field for all political parties.

Albert Gombis, a former Acting Under Secretary of State, and Morse Tan, a former Ambassador-at-Large, are visiting Bangladesh ahead of the crucial elections.

During the hour-long meeting, the Chief Adviser and the visiting diplomats discussed a range of issues, including the upcoming elections, the July Revolution and its aftermath, the emergence of young protesters, the July Charter and the referendum, misinformation targeting the vote, the Rohingya crisis, and prospects for truth and reconciliation in post-July Bangladesh.

Prof Yunus said the government was campaigning for “Yes” votes in the referendum, noting that the July Charter—expected to be endorsed by the people—would mark a new phase of democratic governance and prevent any return to autocracy.

He alleged that supporters of the former autocratic regime were spreading misinformation to sow confusion, but said people were becoming increasingly capable of identifying AI-generated fake content.

Gombis agreed that fake news had become “one of the main enemies” of democracy worldwide and underscored the need for stronger countermeasures.

Both diplomats praised Prof Yunus for his leadership in guiding the country over the past one and a half years.

Responding to a question on the possibility of a truth and reconciliation initiative similar to post-apartheid South Africa, Prof Yunus said the time was not yet right, citing the continued denial of crimes by the former regime.

“Truth and reconciliation require admission of wrongdoing, repentance and remorse, and the creation of the right atmosphere,” he said, adding that despite extensive evidence of serious crimes during the July uprising, those responsible remained in complete denial.

SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.