Dhaka, December 22: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday assured US Special Envoy Sergio Gor that Bangladesh’s general election will be held on schedule on February 12. He said, “The nation is eagerly waiting to reclaim their voting rights.”
Professor Yunus made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Sergio Gor around 7:30 pm (Dhaka time). The discussion, which lasted about half an hour, focused on Bangladesh-US trade and tariff negotiations, the upcoming general election, the country’s democratic transition, and the murder of young political activist Sharif Osman Hadi.
Sergio Gor, who also serves as the US Ambassador to India, congratulated Professor Yunus for his leadership in recent tariff negotiations. As a result, reciprocal US tariffs on Bangladeshi goods were reduced to 20 percent.
During the call, Professor Yunus noted that supporters of the ousted autocratic regime were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process, and that their fugitive leader was inciting violence. However, he stated that the Interim Government is fully prepared to handle any challenges.
“We have roughly 50 days before the election. We want to hold a free, fair, and peaceful election and make it memorable,” Professor Yunus said.
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were present during the call.
