Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Friday reaffirmed that the national election will take place between December and June, as committed by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus. She stressed that there is no possibility of deviating from this timeline not even by a single day.
“There is no scope for shifting even a day from this timeline from our side. The government announced a timeframe for the elections, which will definitely be held between December next and June 2026,” Rizwana said.
She made the remarks while clarifying the government’s stance on the election during a press briefing after the “24th National Conference and AGM 2024 of the Zoological Society of Bangladesh” held at Dhaka University.
Rizwana Hasan said that the interim government is carrying out three thogh responsibilities - reforms, justice and elections.
"Our responsibilities are broadly three, and all three are very difficult. One responsibility is reform, one is dispensing justice, and other is election," she added.
"Our responsibility is a national one. We said we have taken the responsibility, not power. It will be possible for us to perform it only when we all get cooperation from all," she said.
She said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has given a timeframe for next election between December 2025 and June 2026.
“There is no scope to deviate from it even for a day,” the adviser said, adding that she believes that there should be no scope to talk about it in any other way.
Rizwana said after Thursday’s advisory council meeting at Jamuna they discussed for a long time on their own performance.
“We discussed whether we are actually delivering our responsibilities for which we were deputed," she said.
Since assuming office by the interim government, she said many people with their manifold demands are coming to the streets out of their expectation from the government.
But, street demonstration is leading the Dhaka city to become paralyzed, she said adding, ‘expectation is one thing but responsibility is another.’
"We all are thinking about how to deal with the obstacles to perform the three major responsibilities," the environment adviser said.
Rizwana said, they are not under any pressure except their stress for discharging their responsibilities.
“If we are unable to perform our responsibilities, we will go back to our own business,” she said.
The adviser said they have come across a long way amid many adverse situations. We have formed reform commissions, which have already submitted their reports. Process is underway to reach a consensus among the political parties on reform agenda," the adviser said.
Regarding the quick trial of the persons for their offenses during the July uprising, Rizwana said earlier there was one tribunal and now another one has been constituted, which will start functioning soon.
