Bangladesh Sets April 2026 Elections After Uprising

Bangladesh's interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, assumed office following a student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Yunus has declared that neither he nor his cabinet will seek roles in the next government after the national elections scheduled for April 2026. The transition comes amid heightened political turmoil, including Hasina's recent indictment by the International Crimes Tribunal for her alleged role in suppressing student protests. Critics from Hasina's Awami League have dismissed the planned elections as a 'state-sponsored drama' and accused Yunus of abusing state power. Yunus has promised a 'July Charter' to overhaul democratic institutions, to be introduced one year after the uprising. The Election Commission is expected to provide a detailed election roadmap soon.