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.

Terming Bangladesh Awami League a "fascist" party, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Saturday said the interim government will not tolerate any violence or any attempt to break the public order in the country. "The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party. There is no way this fascist party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh," he said. The Press Secretary said the party has no chance to protest in Bangladesh. If anyone tries to hold meetings, gatherings and processions on the orders of mass murderer and dictator Sheikh Hasina, the law and order forces will deal with it strictly, Alam said in a post from his verified Facebook account. Only 4 advisers in interim govt have NGO background, says CA's press secretary From its verified Facebook post, Bangladesh Awami League urged its activists to come to Shaheed Noor Hossain Chatter -  Zero Point, Gulistan, on November 10, and protest against what they call "misrule”. "Our protest is against the deprivation of the rights of the people of the country; Our protest is against the rise of fundamentalist forces; our protest is against the conspiracy to disrupt the lives of the common people," reads the Facebook post. On November 10, 1987, Noor Hossain, a leader of Awami Jubo League, was killed in police firing while protesting against the then autocratic rule of Gen HM Ershad at the capital's zero point near Gulistan.  

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Saturday said the government is investigating how people fled the country after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government but acknowledged the gap without any government in place from August 5-8. “The government position is quite clear. We are investigating and looking into why and how they could flee,” he told reporters while responding to a question during a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy. Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam and CA's Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were present. After 15 years of leading Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5 as student-led protesters stormed her place of residence. July Shaheed Smriti Foundation to support families of martyrs, aid hundreds weekly: Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Alam said one thing is clear that there was no government on August 5-8 and police were on strike for a week and there was a gap at that time. “Our best efforts were there to arrest them. We are still trying to arrest those who were involved in ‘mass killings’,” he said. A journalist wanted to know how deposed Hasina was to flee in protocol when she stepped down. In reply, Alam said, “Again, at that time our government was not there. The overall matter is being investigated.” Responding to a question on expansion of the Council of Advisers, Deputy Press Secretary Azad said some political parties proposed to see whether it can further be expanded with more Advisers and also suggested evaluating the current advisers’ work. He said the Chief Adviser listened to their proposals attentively and will convey his decision following due process.