Feb 12 Election to Set the Benchmark for Future Polls: Chief Adviser Tells US Envoy

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has stated that the upcoming general election on February 12 will serve as a benchmark for all future elections in Bangladesh.

He made this remark during a meeting with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T. Christensen, at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday (January 22, 2026). The Chief Adviser emphasized the government's commitment to holding the polls in a festive and transparent atmosphere.

During the discussion, Dr. Yunus noted that Dhaka expects international observers, including the European Union, to monitor the voting process. Ambassador Christensen lauded the interim government's reform initiatives over the past 18 months and expressed the US's readiness to work with the elected government following the polls. The meeting also covered key bilateral issues, including labor law reforms, proposed tariff agreements, the Rohingya crisis, and Bangladesh’s interest in revitalizing SAARC and joining ASEAN.