Bangladesh Polls Will Be Held On Time, Yunus Tells US Envoy Amid Unrest Over Osman Hadi's Death

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 23:05 IST

During the phone call, Yunus told Gor that Hasina’s supporters were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus (Image: Reuters/File)

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday informed US Special Envoy to South and Central Asia Sergio Gor that elections will be held on time, amid unrest in the country over the death of 2024 uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

During a phone call, Yunus reaffirmed his commitment to holding general elections on February 12 and said the nation was eagerly waiting to exercise its voting rights, which were “stolen by the autocratic regime", a reference to the Sheikh Hasina administration.

The Chief Adviser told Gor that Hasina’s supporters were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process and that their fugitive leader was inciting violence. However, he stressed that his government was “fully prepared" to deal with any challenges.

“We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable," Professor Yunus said.

The US Special Envoy also discussed the massive funeral of Osman Hadi, who was shot by unidentified assailants in Dhaka on December 12.

Hadi’s death has sparked widespread protests across the country, with his supporters threatening to derail the February 12 election unless justice is delivered before the polls.

Yunus held a telephonic conversation with Sergio Gor, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, at around 7:30 pm (Dhaka time). The half-hour discussion covered trade and tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States, the upcoming general election, the country’s democratic transition, and the murder of young Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi.

Sergio Gor, who also serves as the US Ambassador to India, congratulated Professor Yunus on his leadership during recent tariff negotiations. Bangladesh succeeded in reducing US reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi goods to 20 percent. The US Special Envoy also discussed the massive funeral of Shaheed Osman Hadi.

The Chief Adviser 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 assured that the Interim Government was “fully prepared" to handle any challenges.

“We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable," Yunus told Gor.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were present during the call.

News world Bangladesh Polls Will Be Held On Time, Yunus Tells US Envoy Amid Unrest Over Osman Hadi's Death

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