Bangladesh’s interim government is making every effort to ensure that the upcoming national election in February is conducted in a festive, free, and fair manner, Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus has said.

The Chief Adviser made the remarks on Wednesday while meeting German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz, who recently assumed his duties in Bangladesh.

Professor Yunus congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment and expressed hope that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Germany would reach new heights during his tenure.

During the meeting, the Ambassador expressed support for the interim government and inquired about preparations for the February 2026 national elections. He noted that increasing public participation in the democratic process in Bangladesh is an encouraging development.

Ambassador Lotz also praised the government’s reform initiatives, particularly the national accord reached in July. He highlighted that seeing political parties engage in dialogue is a positive sign and stressed that such reform efforts should continue even after the elections.

Commenting on the national accord, the Chief Adviser said that the National Consensus Commission played a historic role by bringing major political parties together to endorse the agreement. “It symbolised unity and a joint commitment to change, while also helping to build public confidence ahead of the elections,” he said.

The discussion further touched on the growing number of Bangladeshi students pursuing higher education in Germany, which the Ambassador welcomed. Both sides praised the strengthening ties and bonds between the peoples of the two countries and exchanged views on the situation of Rohingya refugees and Germany’s support in this regard.

Profr Yunus also noted that Germany is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner in Europe and expressed hope that the newly appointed Ambassador would play a key role in further enhancing trade and investment between the two nations.