Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed that the country’s general elections and a national referendum will be held as scheduled on 12 February, dismissing speculation and misinformation surrounding the vote.
He made the remarks during a meeting with two former senior United States diplomats, Albert Gombis and Morse Tan, at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Tuesday evening, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s press wing.
Muhammad Yunus said there had been widespread misinformation and deliberate attempts to create confusion about the elections, but stressed that the interim government remained firm in its commitment to hold the polls on the announced date and to transfer power to an elected government once the results are declared.
He said the elections would be conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner and that the interim administration would maintain strict neutrality to ensure a level playing field for all political parties.
The two visiting diplomats, who served during the administration of former US president Donald Trump, are in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming elections.
During the hour-long meeting, discussions covered a range of issues, including the election process, the July uprising and its aftermath, the role of youth protesters, the proposed July Charter and referendum, misinformation targeting the vote, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and the prospects for truth and reconciliation in the country.
Muhammad Yunus said the interim government was encouraging voters to support the referendum, arguing that endorsement of the July Charter would mark the beginning of a new democratic era and prevent a return to authoritarian rule.
He accused supporters of the former regime of spreading false information to undermine public confidence in the electoral process, but said voters were becoming increasingly capable of identifying misinformation, including content generated using artificial intelligence.
Albert Gombis agreed that fake news had become a major threat to democratic systems worldwide and said stronger measures were needed to counter its impact.
The diplomats also praised the chief adviser for guiding the country through a challenging transition period and asked whether Bangladesh could pursue a truth and reconciliation process similar to that adopted in South Africa after apartheid.
Muhammad Yunus said such an initiative was not currently possible, citing a lack of acknowledgement or remorse from those accused of abuses during the July uprising.
He said truth and reconciliation required admission of wrongdoing and accountability, adding that despite extensive evidence, those linked to the previous regime continued to deny responsibility for violence that led to the deaths of young protesters.
Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.
