Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated on September 24 last year that "elections should be held within the next 18 months." In his address to the nation, the Chief Adviser mentioned that the 13th National Parliamentary Election could take place either in late 2025 or the first half of 2026. He also stated that election preparations and reforms would proceed simultaneously.
Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee are emphasizing reforms before elections. Most political parties, including the BNP, are demanding elections by 2025. Naturally, various political parties, including BNP, will put pressure on the government from the beginning of this year to meet their demand for elections.
Amidst this debate, 15 reform committees are currently working. Overall, 2025 could be the year of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and reforms.
When asked, BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said “The government must carry out the necessary reforms within a reasonable timeframe to ensure that state reforms and the national election are not delayed.”
He emphasized the need to complete the reforms as quickly as possible and make arrangements for free and fair elections.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the country's major political parties, has been advocating for elections after completing the necessary reforms from the very beginning. The party's Assistant Secretary General and former MP Hamidur Rahman Azad said, “The primary focus of expectations is the upcoming national election, along with the required electoral reforms.”
He said, "The fascist government has destroyed the electoral system and the state structure to prolong its illegitimate rule after losing public support. If elections are held without fundamental reforms, those who come to power will have the opportunity to repeat the actions of the previous government. On the other hand, delaying the election could lead to various conspiracies. We want elections to be held within a reasonable timeframe."
One of the major political parties, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, has emphasized holding elections after completing the necessary reforms. The party's Ameer, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, said, "Those who talk about elections without reforms may have fallen into the trap set by conspirators. Elections must be held after completing the necessary reforms. Past elections have produced fascists."
It is not only the BNP but also the like-minded parties allied with the BNP that have been demanding elections by 2025. The top leader of the 12-party alliance, Chairman of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), Mostafa Jamal Haider, said, "It is possible to hold the election by December 2025. Our expectation is that the government will complete the election within the new year."
Those concerned say that no one expects the country to quickly return to normalcy after clearing the accumulated debris following years of authoritarian rule. However, it is also undesirable for the country to continue on an aimless journey. The students and people, who have sacrificed their lives to build a new Bangladesh, were driven by a dream of changing the social system. Therefore, elections must be held as soon as possible.
The Secretary General of Khelafat Majlis, Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, said, "The revolution of July-August was not just about changing the face of the rulers. This revolution was aimed at changing the core nature of the rulers and building a new Bangladesh free of discrimination. Until justice is served for every murder, disappearance, killing, and oppression that has occurred in Bangladesh over the past 16 years, including the July revolution, no national election can be held in the country."
The President of the Gono Odhikar Parishad and former VP of DUCSU, Nurul Haque Nur, said, "First, the state must be reformed and public aspirations must be fulfilled, and then we can think about elections."
Responsible sources within the government say that after all the reform commissions submit their reports, discussions will be held with political parties to decide what reforms will be made in which areas. The timeframe required for these reforms will also be assessed. Only then will a realistic timeline for when elections can be held be determined. They state that, although the government has repeatedly talked about reforms, democratic parties have consistently emphasized transferring power to an elected government through elections. Meanwhile, the Election Commission is preparing for elections in line with the announcement made by the Chief Adviser.
Yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said in a meeting, "The Election Commission has not yet determined the date for the election. However, preparations are being made according to the timeframe mentioned in the Chief Adviser's statement."
Translated By Rafid
