Bangladesh's prime adviser, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, has described the situation in the country after the suspension of the Awami League's activities on 12 May 2025 as being similar to a 'war-like situation'.
During conversations at the state guesthouse Jamuna with 20 political party representatives, Yunus highlighted that forces both from inside and outside the country are working hard to erode stability. He underlined the utmost importance of solidarity and vigilance to safeguard the hard-won achievements of the country.
"Both within and outside the nation, a war-like scenario arose and did not let us progress, toppled everything, and forced us back into subjugation," the press secretary of the chief adviser Shafiqul Alam reported Prof. Yunus as saying on Sunday evening (May 25). "Because Awami League's work has been prohibited on May 12, continuous attempts have been made to destabilise the situation. We have to safeguard ourselves from this," Yunus further added.
He promised everybody that he was committed to protecting the nation, and that he would never do anything that could put it in harm's way. "I felt confident while we all sat together. If I am unable to conduct a fair election, I will feel guilty," Yunus explained.
The chief adviser reiterated his plan to conduct the election sometime between December 2025 and June 2026, with the polls scheduled before June 30. According to Shafiqul Alam, “everyone expressed their satisfaction” with this timeline.
During the meeting with Yunus, political parties demanded a clear roadmap setting out the reform agenda, election process, and accountability measures regarding the July atrocities. They called upon the caretaker government to launch legal action against Awami League leaders who were implicated in the mass killings in that uprising.
Mujahidul Islam Selim, a former Communist Party of Bangladesh chief, stressed the importance of keeping the people involved in the reform process. He cautioned that the caretaker government may not get sufficient time to implement all the suggested reforms comprehensively.
"Elections can be held after carrying out the required reforms and the caretaker government can leave basic issues to the nation. There is no need for delays, which will only destabilize the already disturbed environment further," Selim warned.
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