DHAKA – Opposition parties in Bangladesh have launched large-scale protests demanding fresh elections, with thousands of demonstrators rallying in the capital, Dhaka.
According to international news agencies, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, organized a major rally on Wednesday, drawing massive crowds to the streets.
The BNP called on interim government head Dr. Muhammad Yunus to hold national elections by December this year, instead of the scheduled date in 2026.
The protest comes amid reports that the country’s Army Chief has also suggested that elections be conducted in December, adding weight to the opposition’s demand.
However, Dr. Yunus has previously stated that general elections will be held in June 2026, in line with the transitional timeline.
It may be mentioned here that the current political unrest follows last year’s student-led movement, which led to the ousting of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid. She reportedly fled to India in August 2024, after which Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus assumed the role of interim head of state.
The situation continues to develop as pressure mounts on the transitional government to accelerate the return to democratic rule.
