Dhaka, January 22, 2026
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday said the upcoming February 12 general elections would set a standard for all future elections in Bangladesh, reaffirming the Interim Government’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent polling process.
Professor Yunus made the remarks when newly appointed United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen, paid his maiden courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including the forthcoming general elections, recently approved labour law reforms, the proposed Bangladesh–US tariff agreement, and the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
The Chief Adviser said the government was fully prepared to hold credible elections on February 12, noting that the European Union would deploy a large contingent of election observers. He expressed hope that other development partners would also send observer missions to monitor the polls.
“It will be a festive election. It will set the standard for good elections in the future. Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” Professor Yunus said.
Highlighting key foreign policy initiatives of the Interim Government, Professor Yunus said Bangladesh was planning to seek membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and had already applied for a Sectoral Dialogue Partnership with the regional bloc. He also emphasized the importance of reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as a platform for regional and economic cooperation in South Asia.
The Chief Adviser further thanked US President Donald Trump for lowering tariffs on Bangladeshi exports to the United States and expressed optimism that ongoing trade negotiations would result in further tariff reductions. He noted that expanded agricultural trade remained a priority in bilateral discussions.
Ambassador Christensen, who arrived in Bangladesh earlier this month, said he looked forward to working with whoever wins the February elections. He praised the Interim Government’s reform agenda and commended Professor Yunus’s leadership over the past 18 months.
The US envoy also welcomed the newly promulgated labour laws and appreciated Bangladesh’s progress in trade negotiations. He reaffirmed Washington’s continued humanitarian support for more than one million Rohingya Muslims living in camps in southeastern Bangladesh.
The meeting also touched on recent US visa restrictions imposed on 75 countries, including Bangladesh.
National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were present at the meeting.
