Overview

• A joint statement in London followed Muhammad Yunus’s talks with Tarique Rahman, during which Rahman urged a vote before Ramadan 2026.
• Yunus’s openness to a mid-February timeline advances the election from April 2026 if reform milestones are achieved.
• The BNP had pressed for polls by December 2025 but signalled willingness to accept the pre-Ramadan schedule after high-level discussions.
• Implementation of an independent Election Commission and judicial reforms are cited as preconditions for the accelerated election date.
• With the Awami League barred from running, the BNP stands as the largest party shaping Bangladesh’s political transition.