Free, fair and festive polls in February

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday reaffirmed his government's commitment to holding a free, fair, transparent, and festive general election in early February next year, ahead of Ramadan.

He gave the assurance during a meeting with a delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), led by Mounir Satouri, at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka.

"We have already announced the timeline for the election. It will be held in early February, just before Ramadan," Yunus told the visiting delegation.

The chief adviser said public enthusiasm was rising, particularly among young people, as student body elections had resumed in universities after long intervals, some returning after more than three decades.

"Bangladesh will witness a new beginning through the February election. The general election will be peaceful, clean, transparent, and festive," he said.

He expressed confidence that record numbers of young voters would turn out, many casting their ballots for the first time in over 15 years.

During the hour-long meeting, the two sides discussed the interim government's reform agenda, the European Union's continued support for Bangladesh's development and democratic transition, and the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

The MEPs expressed optimism that the upcoming election would prove a pivotal moment for the country.

A Dutch MEP observed that Bangladesh may be among the few countries where "things are moving in the right direction."

Yunus thanked the EU for its steadfast support and urged increased funding for the more than one million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh. In particular, he sought assistance to help reopen schools in the refugee camps, which were recently shut down due to an aid shortfall.