Sticking to two possible timelines for the next national election, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday expressed optimism that the national election would be the “most free, fair and credible” in Bangladesh’s history. “As I said before, and I say again, elections will be held between December this year and June next year,” he said in a televised address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day and Eid-ul-Fitr. He highlighted that the Election Commission has already begun preparations and urged political parties to engage with enthusiasm. Dr Yunus also noted that the Consensus Commission is actively gathering opinions from all political parties. “The commission aims to identify common ground among political parties and compile a consensus-based document. The parties endorsing this will sign what will be termed the ‘July Charter,’” he explained. He assured that the government’s role is to ensure transparency in the entire process and facilitate the elections upon its completion. The Chief Adviser warned of a surge in misinformation and propaganda aimed at destabilising the country ahead of the upcoming elections. “Our collective unity is making the ousted force frustrated, and they are devising sophisticated tactics to break it. We must not fall into their trap,” he said. Since the interim government took office, a wave of misinformation has been sweeping through the media and social platforms, Dr Yunus said. “Fabricated content, doctored images and false narratives are being used to create confusion. Events from other countries are being misrepresented as local incidents to incite unrest. The closer we get to the elections, the more intense these activities will become,” said the Chief Adviser. Bangladesh’s future depends on eradication of corruption: Chief Adviser He said the government has sought assistance from the United Nations to counter misinformation campaigns. “The UN Secretary-General has assured us of extending support in tackling this challenge,” Dr Yunus said. The Chief Adviser described the country as being in a "state of war" against defeated forces attempting to undermine stability. “The July uprising’s first phase has been successfully completed and now we enter the second phase. Misinformation is the most powerful weapon of these defeated forces, funded by limitless resources and driven by experienced strategists,” he warned. Eradication of Corruption Stressing the need for eliminating corruption, the Chief Adviser said Bangladesh has no future unless corruption is eradicated. "Like the people of our country, the international community also wants us to be free from corruption because they seek to expand trade with us. Without eliminating corruption, business and trade cannot thrive. Bangladesh has no future unless corruption is eradicated," he said. Dr Yunus said the interim government prioritises efforts to ensure a corruption-free administration. Beyond maintaining transparency during the tenure of the current government, it is committed to establishing systems that will prevent future administrations from corruption, the Chief Adviser said. "Corruption not only inflates costs to an unimaginable extent but also distorts all institutional structures. Government policies, institutional frameworks, and officials’ responsibilities, however well-documented, become meaningless in practice. The country operates under an unwritten system, forcing the government, businesses, investors, and every citizen to comply with it," he added. Dr Yunus said the government is focusing on minimising physical interactions between citizens and government offices to combat corruption and bureaucratic harassment. “As part of the prevention of corruption, a decision has been taken to introduce e-filing in all government offices.” Dr Yunus calls for social movement against misogyny E-filing will reduce corruption by providing real-time tracking of files within offices, he said, adding, “The government is working to implement online services in all sectors where digital access is feasible. Citizens are often forced to pay exorbitant sums to access essential services. We are committed to ending such financial exploitation and harassment." The Chief Adviser urged citizens to provide feedback on how to simplify online services and encouraged individuals to email their suggestions. Social Movement against Misogyny Dr Yunus stressed the need for a social movement against misogyny and prejudiced attitudes towards women. “We must identify the existing inequalities in the country and work together to prevent violence and discrimination against women," he said. Highlighting the role of modern technology in breaking barriers, Dr Yunus said technology has given people immense power to dismantle obstacles, no matter how high or strong they are.” We must utilise it to bridge all gaps." He also praised the resilience of women who participated in the July uprising and said they are determined to establish their rights. The Chief Adviser said to enhance women's safety police launched a hotline and the government launched a dedicated short-code service. The call-taking system is designed to be handled entirely by female staff ensuring a more comfortable reporting environment for victims, the CA said. Besides, amendments were made to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act to expedite investigations and trials to eliminate delays in justice. Dr Yunus said DNA laboratories are being set up in Chattogram and Rajshahi alongside Dhaka, while a special judicial service commission is set to appoint more judges soon. Provisions have also been made to establish special tribunals to ensure swift justice for child victims, he added. Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant The Chief Adviser said they have been putting importance on timely completion of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant considering the growing demand of electricity. Upcoming election to be most free, credible in Bangladesh’s history: Dr Yunus “We have emphasized on the timely completion of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in view of the country's growing demand for electricity,” he said. The Chief Adviser said that the Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) has told him that the power plant will be put into trial operation soon. Dr Yunus said Nepal and Bhutan are very interested in giving Bangladesh hydropower, and Bangladesh is also interested in receiving it. “There is no alternative (of electricity) to developing Bangladesh's industrial zone. If we can bring hydropower from Nepal, our dependence on fossil fuels will decrease,” he said. The Chief Adviser said discipline has been restored in the country’s economy from a devastated one while it has been one of the very important attainments of the interim government. “Confidence has been restored in the banking system. As a result of this, discipline has been restored in the economy while it was very much important among the attainments of the interim government,” he said.

Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed on Sunday made a proposal for conducting voting in open fields instead of closed rooms of schools and colleges in a bid to enhance transparency in the election process. “How can it be transparent if we conduct the election in the closed rooms of a confined house? It definitely will not be transparent. That’s why I want the elections to be held in an open field,” she said while addressing a discussion at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on Sunday, marking National Voter Day 2025. This year, National Voter Day is being observed with the theme "We will cast votes together in your and my Bangladesh" (Tomar Amar Bangladeshe, Vote Dibo Milemishe). Tahmida Ahmad said she wants to conduct the balloting in the open fields of schools and colleges within the boundary walls. “Does this seem crazy?” she said. Noting that reforms are seen everywhere now, she said if anyone is asked what kind of election they want, the person would instantly reply that they want free, fair, and transparent elections. Election Commission committed to holding credible polls: CEC “The word ‘transparent’ really resonates with me. I, too, want our elections to be transparent. But how can it be transparent if we conduct the voting in closed rooms of a confined house?” she said. The election commissioner also provided an example of how a boundary rope could be set up in an open field to prevent anyone from entering the designated area during the balloting. “When we go to the bank, they make a line with a thin rope. Do we stay within the line? Do we follow it? Yes, we do. So, why wouldn’t people follow the same when it comes to voting? Why shouldn’t we do this? Why wouldn’t you cooperate with us?” she said. She said if the people cooperate, the EC will arrange the elections in the open fields. “This is the kind of reform I want to bring. We won’t stick to the traditional method of conducting the election in closed rooms. We want to do it in the open fields,” she went on. Tahmida Ahmed said it might seem like a crazy idea at first, but it is not. “Nothing is impossible. We want to prove it,” she said. Another Election Commissioner, Brig Gen (Retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah, said the data of 53,33,563 eligible voters have so far been collected across the country during the ongoing voter registration programme that started on January 20 last and will be completed by June next. He said some 1.9 million deceased voters have so far been removed and the data 3.6 million dropped out voters had been collected, surpassing the EC’s target of 2.6 to 2.7 million dropout voters during the ongoing registration campaign. Sanaullah pointed out that it is time to consider whether it is essential to go on a door-to-door campaign to update the country’s voter lists now in the era of the digitized world. “We’ll have to think about whether we will go door to door at all in the future, because we are in a digitised world.  Secondly, there is a cost involved in going door to door,” he said. The commissioner said both mistakes in the voter lists and costs can be reduced, if the people take responsibility (going to designated places or online) to complete the registration process. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, two other election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker also spoke at the discussion presided over by EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has said the reform of electoral laws and rules and other necessary works must be completed by October next to hold the 13th parliamentary election in December next. “To conduct the election in December, I have to be fully prepared with everything by October, completing whatever necessary (for the election). I’ve to announce the schedule at the end of October,” he said on Sunday. AL won’t be allowed to contest elections: Mahfuj Alam The CEC made the remark while addressing a dialogue titled ‘RFED Talk’ with Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy-RFED at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. He said the election commission needs to announce the election schedule at least two months or one and half a month before an election. UK NRB Society concerned over potential Sylhet-Manchester flight suspension The submission of the nomination papers, scrutiny of nomination papers, withdrawal of candidacy, settlement of appeals against the decisions of returning officers, and giving at least 21 days for election campaign are to be considered during the announcement of an election schedule, he said. “If the election is to be held in December, then there must be an arrangement so that I can prepare by October. And if it says in the middle that new law or reform is to be made, then it will be a big challenge for me. It will be a big challenge not only for me but also for anyone because of time constraints,” said Nasir Uddin. Rizvi compares call for reforms before elections to AL putting development before democracy He focused on different issues, including registration of political parties and delimitation of constituencies.