Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said that it can be expected that the next general election will be held in the country by June 30, 2026. “He (CA) has mentioned a time. What could be a clearer roadmap than this? You can expect the election to be held by June 30, 2026. This is a clear roadmap,” he said while briefing reporters over the current issues at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday. The press secretary made the remarks about the possible election schedule a day after Chief Adviser Dr Yunus’ announcement that the next national election can be arranged during a time between the end of 2025 and first half of 2026. "Broadly speaking, the election can be scheduled between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026," he said in a televised speech to the nation on Monday. Shafiqul Alam said he thinks the chief adviser has given a clear roadmap. “If there are fewer reforms, the election could be held by December 2025. He (CA) has shed a light. And the exact date will depend on the reforms,” he said. UGC to be ‘university commission: CA’s Press Secretary Replying to a question about the election time, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said it is the Election Commission that will announce the exact election date and election schedule. He said the Chief Adviser announced a broader time frame for the next election.  No pardon for killers Regarding the trial of killers, Shafiqul Alam said that justice will be served against those involved in killings, July-August massacres and enforced disappearance regardless of their affiliations. “Those who involved in any killing and those whose hands were stained with blood will face justice—there will be no pardon for them,” he said. He said those whoever involved in the July-August massacres … and those who involved in the enforced disappearance will be brought to justice, no matter they are political party leaders or members of the security force. “You can rest assure of it,” said the press secretary. Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad was present at the briefing.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday said they would formally approach India seeking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition after completing the required legal procedures. "Our government's position on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina is very clear. We want to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country to face the law," he said during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the evening. Alam said Hasina was the key person who passed the order in the massacre that took place during her tenure, killing more than 1,500 people in July-August. "Since we have an extradition treaty with India, one can seek extradition after going through some legal procedures. After completing those procedures, we will formally approach India seeking her extradition," said the Press Secretary. Wahiduddin’s remarks on polls personal; no date from CA yet: Press Wing In September, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be extradited and brought to justice if she committed crimes. "Why shouldn't she be? If she committed crimes, she should be extradited and brought to justice… She should be facing justice too," he said while responding to a question at "The New York Times Climate Forward Event." Referring to Hasina, Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh will definitely seek extradition of any convicted person under the extradition treaty with India once trials begin. “We have an extradition treaty with India. As per the extradition treaty, if any convicted person stays in India, we can seek his or her extradition. We will soon let you know through the Law Ministry,” he said recently. Sheikh Hasina, who left the country on August 5, is facing a number of cases.

Expressing Dhaka’s willingness to strengthen ties with Delhi, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday said Bangladesh certainly wants to see its relations with India at a better place focusing on “fairness, equity and dignity.” “We will surely want the relations with India to be in a better position so that peoples from both sides get benefitted. At the same time, we want the relations based on fairness, equity and dignity. That is our focus,” he said. The Press Secretary was briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday evening. CA’s Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present. Alam highlighted the long-standing historical, cultural and linguistic ties between the two neighbouring nations. Amid strained ties and growing criticisms from both sides on post-August 5 issues, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is scheduled to arrive here on Monday to hold several meetings apart from attending the foreign secretary-level talks to address mutual concerns. CA Dr Yunus reiterates key reforms to hold free polls CA’ Deputy Press Secretary Apurba said the Indian Foreign Secretary is likely to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. This is going to be the first visit to be made by a senior Indian government official to Bangladesh since the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, came to power on August 8. Foreign Secretary Misri and his Bangladesh counterpart, Md Jashim Uddin, will lead their respective delegation at the Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that the FOC led by the Foreign Secretaries is a structured engagement between Bangladesh-India. "We look forward to this meeting," he said. Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said there are always efforts to keep all the elements of the bilateral relations on agenda. He, however, said there are some broad areas - trade, border management, connectivity and water issues - and these will be discussed.

The interim government continues its sincere efforts to bring back the huge money laundered abroad though it remains a tough task, says Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. “You know it is a tough task but our efforts are on. This is the money of the people of Bangladesh. We hope if the (laundered) money is returned, people of the country will be benefited,” he said while responding to a question at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday. We’re dismayed, very shocked if it’s true, says CA’s press secretary on Adani’s deadline   Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present. The interim government, headed by Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has been giving importance on recovery of stolen money, since the very beginning of their tenure. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said every year some $12 billion to $ 15 billion was siphoned off from Bangladesh during the regime of Awami League government. The Chief Adviser in his meetings with the head of the states, foreign envoys and other organizations discussed the issue which remains was one of the main agenda of his government. Prof Yunus calls for collaborative approach, peace globally  Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is also working on it, Alam said. The finance adviser and the central bank governor during their annual meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also discussed the issue, he said. Alam said the interim government recognises the significant contributions of the four national leaders -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, AHM Quamruzzaman and M Mansur Ali -- who were killed in jail on November 3, 1975, and played vital roles during the great Liberation War.

Ihsanul Karim has got another two-year extension as Press Secretary to the Prime Minister. The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Sunday. It said the service contract of Ihsanul Karim has been extended by two years from June 18, 2022 or the date of his re-joining. READ: Ihsanul Karim gets another 3-yr extension as PM’s Press Secretary   Ihsanul Karim, former press secretary to the President, was first appointed as the Press Secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 15, 2015 and then he got three-year extension on June 16, 2016 and June 18, 2019. Earlier, he was the Managing Director and the Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).