Bangladesh is entering full election mode as the country prepares for its 13th parliamentary election and a simultaneous national referendum. 

This political momentum comes amid the resignations of two key advisers from the interim government and heightened scrutiny from political parties over the conduct of the elections.

On Wednesday evening, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam submitted their resignation letters, confirmed by the Chief Adviser’s office.

Asif, representing students, had joined the interim government following the fall of the Awami League administration on 5 August last year, taking oath as an adviser on 8 August. Initially appointed as Labour Adviser, he later oversaw the Ministries of Youth and Sports, Local Government, and Cooperatives.

Mahfuj Alam, meanwhile, joined as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser with the status of Adviser on 10 November 2024. He was later appointed Adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 26 February this year, following the resignation of Nahid Islam, who became Coordinator of the National Citizen Party.

The resignations come as the Election Commission (EC) gears up to release the much-anticipated election schedule. Senior Secretary Md Akhtar Ahmed confirmed on Wednesday that the schedule for both the parliamentary election and the national referendum will be announced at 6 pm on Thursday. Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin’s address to the nation.

The EC has already recorded the speech, which will detail preparations for the polls, including updates to the electoral rolls, registration of new political parties, and the use of two separate ballot papers—one for the national election and another for the referendum. Balloting hours have also been extended by one hour, now scheduled from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who met the Chief Election Commissioner and four other election commissioners, expressed satisfaction with the preparations undertaken by the EC. “When we said that we extended the balloting hour by one hour, he termed the decision logical and expressed his satisfaction,” said Md Akhtar Ahmed, recounting the President’s remarks.

Amid these preparations, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus described the upcoming elections as a “historic opportunity” to shape a new Bangladesh. 

Speaking to Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and Cabinet Division officials via video conference from the State Guest House Jamuna, Prof Yunus emphasised that the upcoming polls must be conducted smoothly, peacefully, and fairly to make them “memorable.”

“We had seen elections before. Any sane person would say that the elections held in the past were not elections but fraud,” Prof Yunus remarked. He called on UNOs to meticulously plan and prepare for every step of the election process, stressing that the task is far more than routine administration.

“History has given us a new opportunity. Another generation will not get this opportunity,” he said. “If we can utilise it, we will be able to build a new Bangladesh. If we fail, the nation will be in trouble.”

Highlighting the importance of the referendum, Prof Yunus stated that it could permanently transform the nation. “The election is for the next five years, and the referendum is for a hundred years,” he said. He urged officials to raise voter awareness about the referendum, ensuring citizens understand whether to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

The Chief Adviser also stressed the need to facilitate safe participation for women in the polls and likened election officials to midwives: “If the midwives are good, the babies born are also good,” highlighting the critical role of administrators in shaping a credible electoral process.

While the interim government focuses on preparation, political rhetoric is intensifying. 

Senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas criticised other parties for speaking about “reforms” without understanding the country’s needs. Speaking at the fourth day of BNP’s “Plan to Build the Country” programme, Abbas said, “Those who still speak about reforms don’t even understand what to reform. They surely know only one reform — a reform that will help them come to power.”

Abbas highlighted the BNP’s historical contributions, including the growth of the garment sector and overseas employment, pointing out that many of these were reforms implemented without formal declarations. “The youth and women ministries were also formed during his [Ziaur Rahman’s] time,” he said.

Abbas encouraged party activists to actively engage with citizens, explain BNP’s vision, and seek votes while emphasising the party’s commitment to long-term development planning.

With the resignations of Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and Mahfuj Alam, the announcement of the election schedule, and statements from both the Chief Adviser and political leaders, Bangladesh is now firmly entering a high-stakes electoral period. 

The upcoming election and referendum are being framed not merely as routine democratic exercises but as historic milestones with the potential to shape the country’s political and social trajectory for years to come.

The nation now watches closely as administrative preparations are finalised and political parties mobilise their bases, with the polls promising to be a decisive moment in Bangladesh’s history.