Bangladesh interim government says polls possible in 2025

DHAKA : Bangladesh interim govt’s law adviser Asif Nazrul said Thursday that “realistically speaking” parliamentary election could be possible only by next year after all poll-related preparations are completed.
“There are many factors. This is a preliminary assumption to me,” he said during a television programme. The interim govt now wants to proceed with forming a new election commission through a “search committee”, which will be formed soon.The new election commission, once established, will prepare an updated voters’ list. However, there is no indication yet whether the biggest political party, Bangladesh Awami League, will be allowed to participate as cases against its top members are piling up.
The govt is moving fast to try top Awami leaders, including deposed PM Sheikh Hasina and general secretary Obaidul Quader. A domestic court has ordered the authorities concerned to arrest them and produce them before a court by November 18.
The interim govt says Hasina should be handed over to Bangladesh in accordance with its extradition treaty with India. But Dhaka fears that Delhi may raise a provision that the allegations brought against her were not brought in “good faith”.