In his address to the nation on 16 December last year, the chief adviser had mentioned a possible date for the national elections.
He had said elections could be held in December 2025 if fewer reforms are sought and in mid-2026 if broader reform is demanded.
Since then, the chief advisor told several international media outlets and persons that his government was trying to hold the elections by next December.
The election commission (EC) has also said that it would prepare accordingly. Now, the question of “fewer reforms” and “broader reforms” has been raised and the idea of holding the elections in June next year has created doubts in political circles.
However, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya, commented that he was unable to understand what “small reforms” or “big reforms” are.
He told Prothom Alo, “The reforms have not started yet. Only theoretical work has been done. The National Consensus Commission has said that 166 important proposals have been received. They said they will carry out only those reforms where a consensus can be reached and skip those where agreement can’t be reached. There is no such a thing as a small or big reform here. We want the necessary reforms, that is, reforms that lead to a quality election.”