Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has firmly stated that the next national election will be held within the timeline promised by the interim government—either by December 2025 or no later than June 2026—leaving no room for an extension.
“There is absolutely no scope to extend this deadline, not even by a single day,” Rizwana declared on Friday, pushing back against growing speculation surrounding Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s potential resignation and uncertainties about the election schedule.
Speaking to reporters after attending the 24th National Conference and AGM 2024 of the Zoological Society of Bangladesh at Dhaka University, Rizwana underscored the interim administration’s commitment to a smooth and timely democratic transition.
“We are not here to govern in the traditional sense—we are fulfilling a responsibility,” she said. “This process can only be meaningful with national unity and collective support. The Chief Adviser has given a definitive timeframe, and we intend to stay true to it.”
Highlighting the progress made, she noted that reform commissions have completed their recommendations and that political engagement across party lines is ongoing. “We’ve endured a difficult path to reach this point. The momentum must not be disrupted now,” she said.
Rizwana also confirmed that institutional reforms are moving forward, including the establishment of a new election tribunal. “Starting tomorrow, judicial operations under the new tribunal framework will formally begin,” she said, pointing to a key step in the electoral roadmap.
In a call for unity, she appealed to both the public and political actors: “This is a defining moment. We ask that no unnecessary obstacles be placed in our way. We are committed to fulfilling our duty—and we need everyone’s cooperation to see it through.”
