Free, fair polls between December and June: Yunus
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has announced that the national elections will be held between December this year and June next year.
In a nationwide address on Tuesday evening, marking Independence Day and the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, Yunus emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that the upcoming election becomes the most free, fair, and acceptable in Bangladesh’s history.
“The Election Commission has already begun preparations to conduct an election that meets international standards of transparency and fairness,” he said. The Chief Adviser’s speech was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, reaching millions of citizens across the nation.
Countering rumours amid election preparations
Yunus expressed concern over the surge in rumours and misinformation campaigns on media and social media platforms since the interim government took office.
“As the election approaches, these rumours will likely intensify and take on more dangerous forms. Everyone knows who is behind this and why,” he said, without naming specific individuals or groups.
He accused certain quarters of deliberately spreading false information to destabilise the country. “Innovative methods are being used to mislead people—photos from other countries are being misrepresented as incidents in Bangladesh, unrelated images are being merged to create fake narratives, and baseless stories are being circulated to incite unrest.”
UN cooperation to combat misinformation
To counter this growing threat, Yunus revealed that the government has sought assistance from the United Nations. “We have requested the UN’s cooperation to prevent the spread of rumours and false information. The UN Secretary-General has assured us of their support in combating this menace,” he said.
The Chief Adviser urged citizens to remain vigilant and not fall prey to such misinformation. He called for unity and collective efforts to ensure a peaceful environment leading up to the elections.
