Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus assured British parliamentarian Rupa Huq on Saturday that the upcoming general election in Bangladesh will be entirely free and fair, marking a significant step towards restoring democratic processes in the country.
During a meeting at the state guest house Jamuna, Dr Yunus emphasised the transformative changes underway. “People could not vote in the last three elections.
There was a fake parliament, fake MPs, and a fake speaker,” he stated, highlighting past electoral irregularities. “The whole country has now got their voices back.
Their voice was taken away forcibly,” he added.
When asked about the potential timing of the next general election, Dr Yunus revealed two possible timelines: December 2025 or mid-2026.
He explained that the timeline would depend on the extent of reforms desired by the people. “The election date depends on how much reform people want,” he noted.
Rupa Huq, impressed by the progress made under the Interim Government, expressed her optimism, saying, “I am really encouraged by seeing Bangladesh 2.0.” She also expressed her willingness to return to Bangladesh to observe the next general election.
Dr Yunus assures Huq on the circumstances that led to the July mass uprising and the subsequent fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
He highlighted the repression faced by citizens under the previous regime, which had fuelled widespread discontent.
The meeting with Rupa Huq occurred alongside a visit by a UK business delegation.
The delegation, led by UKBCCI Chairman Iqbal Ahmed OBE and President M G Moula Mia, is on a three-day mission to explore trade and investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
Earlier, they met with Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, BIDA Chairman Ashik Mahmud Chowdhury, and Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed.
Siddiqi invited British investors, including those of Bangladeshi origin, to take advantage of the Interim Government’s sweeping reforms designed to attract foreign direct investment.
“We are creating a conducive environment for international businesses to thrive in Bangladesh,” he stated.
James Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director of the British High Commission in Dhaka, was also present during the meeting between Dr Yunus and Rupa Huq.
His presence underscored the UK’s continued interest in supporting Bangladesh’s transition towards a more transparent and democratic political framework.
