Bangladesh Elections: How Yunus-Rahman meeting sets path for democratic transition

In a major step toward restoring democratic governance in Bangladesh, a high-level meeting in London between Nobel Laureate and interim government chief advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and Tarique Rahman, acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has set the stage for elections by mid-February 2026.

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In a major step toward restoring democratic governance in Bangladesh, a high-level meeting in London between Nobel Laureate and interim government chief advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and Tarique Rahman, acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has set the stage for elections by mid-February 2026. The meeting, which insiders described as cordial and constructive, marks the first direct engagement between the interim government and the BNP since political turmoil engulfed the country in 2024.

ELECTORAL ROLLS TO REMAIN UNCHANGED Among the key decisions finalized during the London talks was the agreement to retain the current voting age at 18 and keep the existing electoral rolls unchanged. The move is seen as essential for adhering to the tight electoral timeline, sources close to the meeting said. "There is no luxury of time," remarked an official familiar with the discussions. "The people of Bangladesh want a return to democratic rule without bureaucratic delays."