B'desh to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026, says Yunus

DHAKA: Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who heads the caretaker government installed after an August revolution, said on Monday that general elections would be held late next year or in early 2026.

- Agencies

Pressure has been growing on Nobel Peace Prize winner Yunus - appointed the country's "chief adviser" after the student-led uprising that toppled ex-premier Sheikh Hasina - to set a date.

The 84-year-old microfinance pioneer is leading a temporary administration to tackle what he has called the "extremely tough" challenge of restoring democratic institutions in the South Asian nation of about 170 million people.

"Election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026," he said in a broadcast on state television to mark Victory Day or Vijay Diwas.

Victory Day or Vijay Diwas commemorates the Pakistan military's surrender to Indian forces in 1971. India's historic victory led to the liberation of Bangladesh.