Polls either in December or in June next year, depends on reform: Chief Adviser

If political parties want less reforms before the elections, then the elections will be held in December, and if they want more reforms, then the elections will be held by June next year, said Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

He said this when two former US ambassadors, William B. Milam and Danilovich, paid a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday (March 6).

The Chief Adviser said that after the dialogue on the reforms recommended by the six commissions is completed, the political parties will sign the July Charter. "The July Charter will show us the way. The interim government will implement some of the recommendations given in the July Charter and the rest will be implemented by the political governments."

The two former diplomats informed the Chief Adviser about the plan to expand its work in Bangladesh as part of its efforts to support the democratic transition.

At that time, Dr. Yunus praised the work of the nonprofit group and the two diplomats’ efforts to support human rights and democratic values ​​in Bangladesh.

Former Ambassador William B. Milam is president of the US-based nonprofit human rights organization Right to Freedom. He praised the interim government’s reform initiatives, saying the July uprising has provided a major opportunity to implement comprehensive reforms and establish true democracy in Bangladesh.

Former US Deputy Ambassador to Dhaka John Danilovich said Bangladesh needs to make a positive statement and make serious efforts to counter the threat of fake news and disinformation.

They also discussed current Bangladesh-US relations, the Rohingya crisis and the impact of aid cuts on the much-persecuted Myanmar refugees, the recovery of billions of dollars stolen by the previous regime, the chief adviser’s efforts to revitalize SAARC, and the possible date for the upcoming elections.