Bangladesh plans general elections by December amid tensions

Bangladesh is aiming to hold general elections by December, as announced by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) after a meeting with interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus. This caretaker government has been in place since August, following mass protests that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that Yunus indicated a roadmap for the elections would be announced soon, which is a more specific timeline compared to previous estimates suggesting late 2025 or mid-2026. The BNP has been advocating for earlier elections, initially calling for them by August. Amid rising tensions, including recent protests that included the burning of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence, the interim government is also addressing economic concerns, particularly inflation, which was reported at 9.94% in January. Yunus has emphasized the importance of electoral reforms before finalizing election arrangements.