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Parliamentary elections will be held in Bangladesh before 15th February next year. Chief Advisor to the interim government, Mohammad Yunus, gave this information while addressing the nation. This will be the first general elections after the coup in August last year.
At the same time, the date of verdict in the crime against humanity case registered against Sheikh Hasina has been announced today. Dhaka’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will announce its verdict on Monday, November 17.
Before the decision today, tight security arrangements were made around ICT. Awami League had announced a lockdown against the decision. In response, workers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami took to the streets in many areas of Dhaka on Thursday and also took out processions at some places.
Arson in the office of former PM Sheikh Hasina
On the other hand, in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka today at around 1 pm, protesters set fire to the headquarters of Awami League. According to the Dhaka Tribune, about 10 to 15 people collected wood, paper cartons and other items and set them on fire on the fourth floor of the building.
Even after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, the same building was set on fire. Awami League has been banned in Bangladesh.
Referendum will be held in Bangladesh on the same day of elections
Yunus also announced that a referendum on the July Charter would also be held on the same day as the parliamentary elections. He said that the objective is to strengthen the democratic process in the country.
In July 2025, a constitutional reform proposal named “July Charter” was made among the country’s political parties and civil organizations. An attempt was made to decide four important things.
- How will elections be held in future?
- What will be the role of army or judiciary?
- What will be the new policies related to corruption and human rights?
- Will the restrictions imposed on Sheikh Hasina continue or not?
Yunus government will also conduct referendum along with elections
Mohammad Yunus addressed the nation on Thursday afternoon.
Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus today announced that both national elections and the referendum on the July Charter will be held on the same day. The government has taken this decision as part of an effort to resolve the current political crisis.
Yunus said in an address to the nation on Thursday afternoon that the public will be asked for their opinion on the order to implement the July Charter in the referendum. He told that it will have four different parts.
Yunus said that to strike a balance between the different demands of political parties, the 100-member Upper House will be formed on the basis of proportional representation. That is, the party will be given seats in proportion to the number of votes it gets.
He said that the preparation of the implementation order of July Charter is in the final stage and the notification of the Government Gazette is awaited. All these decisions were taken in the Advisory Council meeting held this morning.
The government had warned on November 3 that all parties would have to resolve their differences within a week, otherwise the government would take necessary steps. But despite this, differences remain between the parties.
Demand for death sentence to Hasina
The government lawyer has made five serious charges against Hasina, of which murder, failure to stop crime and crimes against humanity are the most important.
The government lawyer has demanded death sentence for him. Bangladesh is on high alert in view of the increasing tension in the matter. The deployment of police and army has been increased at airports and important buildings across the country.
Soldiers stand guard outside the International Criminal Tribunal in Dhaka on November 13, 2025.
Sheikh Hasina’s overthrow after violence and arson
The event began on 5 August 2024, when Sheikh Hasina’s government was overthrown in Bangladesh. Before and after this, huge demonstrations, arson and violence were seen across the country.
There were allegations against the government that the protesting students were arrested, tortured and fired upon. After violence escalated, Sheikh Hasina left the country and took refuge in India.
After this, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh registered a case against him. The court ordered him to return to the country and appear in the case, but he did not obey this order.
Tribunal’s government lawyer Ghazi Munawwar Hussain Tamim said that November 13 will only be given as the date for pronouncing the verdict, the sentence will not be pronounced on that day. Usually it takes about a week for the decision to be announced.
Hasina called the allegations fabricated
It was said from Hasina’s side that this entire case is a political conspiracy. He says that the tribunal is not impartial and all the allegations are false and fabricated.
He accused the legal process of lack of transparency and said he was being politically targeted.
Yunus government has registered more than 225 cases against Hasina ranging from murder, kidnapping to treason. Bangladesh government has also canceled Sheikh Hasina’s passport.
The International Criminal Tribunal of Bangladesh had issued an arrest warrant against him. The tribunal had directed Hasina to appear before her by February 12.
Bangladesh has also appealed to India to deport Hasina. However, the Indian government has extended his visa, making it clear that he will not be deported to Bangladesh.
The movement against reservation had carried out a coup
There were massive student-led protests in Bangladesh last year. The mob had attacked the residence of the then Prime Minister, 77-year-old Sheikh Hasina, on August 5, 2024. Hasina had fled from Bangladesh to India before the mob arrived. She has been living in India since then.
With this, the 20 year old Awami League government in Bangladesh also fell. After this, an interim government was established under the leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. Students across the country were protesting against Hasina regarding the quota system.
In fact, in Bangladesh, on June 5, 2024, the High Court had implemented 30% quota system in jobs. This reservation was being given to the families of freedom fighters. But Hasina government later abolished this reservation. After this the students started protesting demanding his resignation.
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