Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus has vowed to stay in power until as late as mid-2026, despite growing political turmoil and calls from opponents and parts of the military to hold a vote and hand reins to an elected government sooner.
The Nobel laureate, who heads an interim government named after last year’s overthrow of Sheikh Hasina in a student-led revolt, also brushed aside concerns voiced by rights groups over a recent ban on her party’s political activities and arrests of people linked to the old regime.
“We promise that this election will be held from the beginning of December of this year to June of next year,” Yunus said in Dhaka, ahead of a visit to the UK from June 9. “Within this period, it will be held — that’s it.”