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

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 23:38 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 murder and massive funeral of Osman Hadi, who was shot by unidentified assailants in Dhaka on December 12. Hadi, who was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Singapore on December 18.

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.

During the phone call, which lasted about half an hour, Yunus and Gor also discussed trade and tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States, as well as the country’s democratic transition.

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

Bangladesh Unrest

Several incidents of violence, including vandalism at the offices of various media publications, were reported after Hadi’s death on Thursday night. Protesters were also seen vandalising the already demolished structure at 32 Dhanmondi, the home of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Stone-hurling was also reported at the Indian Assistant High Commissioner’s residence in Chattogram, after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus confirmed Inquilab Mancha leader Hadi’s death in a televised address to the nation.

Amid the protests, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched to death by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka, Mymensingh, last week.

As protests continue over Hadi’s death, another student leader was shot in the southwestern city of Khulna on December 22. Motaleb Shikder was the Khulna Division head of the NCP (National Citizen Party) and central coordinator of the party’s workers’ front.

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