Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters in front of the State Guest House Jamuna tonight. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, May 24, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today reiterated his position on the next election, stressing that the government will hold the polls between December this year and June 2026.

"Prof Yunus is a man of his word. He gave a cut-off time. He won't go beyond that," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters in front of the State Guest House Jamuna tonight after the Chief Adviser held meetings with three major political parties.

Alam said the Chief Adviser conveyed the same to BNP when its leaders met the Chief Adviser at his residence.

During the separate meetings with delegations of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP) at Jamuna, they broadly discussed the reforms, polls and the trial of crimes committed during the July uprising, he said.

During the meetings, the press secretary said, every party placed their position, expressing their full support for Prof Yunus and his interim government.

Regarding the news about resign of the Chief Adviser, they said they and the country's people have unflinching trust in the leadership of Prof Yunus, seeking a free, fair and neutral election to be held under his leadership, he said.

During the meeting, Alam said, BNP has sought polls by December this year.

Noting that Jamaat-e-Islami stated that the government would require time untill December to complete reform works, he said the party expressed its support over the Chief Adviser's timeframe on polls.

On Election Commission, the press secretary said, NCP and Jamaat claimed that there is no level playing field now for a free and fair polls in the country and asked the government to create a level playing field through reform in the Election Commission.

He said vice chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz, who was present at the meetings, stated that works are on to formulate the July Proclamation and it will be made soon.

Replying to a query, he said Prof Yunus mentioned that the trial on the crimes committed during the July uprising will begin this month and it be conducted speedily maintaining due process.

Responding to another query, Alam said the Chief Adviser repeatedly mentioned that the next polls will be held between December this year and June 30 next year and stressed that the Chief Adviser keeps his words.

He said June 30 is a specific date, and the Chief Adviser will not go beyond that.

The press secretary said Prof Yunus will probably convey the same message to other political parties, which will meet him on Sunday.

He said the political leaders expressed their confidence in the leadership of Prof Yunus.

Claiming that all the three meetings were held in friendly environment, Alam said leaders of the NCP demanded local government polls.

Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretaries Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Apurba Jahangir were also present at the press briefing.