Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has asserted that the upcoming national election will be held within the timeline set by the Chief Adviser and will not be delayed by even a single day.
He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while speaking to reporters after attending the second TEDx Cumilla University event, held at the Moinamoti Auditorium of the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) in Kotbari, Cumilla.
“There is no uncertainty surrounding the election. The Chief Adviser has already set the timeframe, and the election will be conducted within that period. It will not be postponed even by a day,” said Alam. “You will see a peaceful, well-organized election—possibly the best in the history of Bangladesh. The government is committed to ensuring a level playing field so that no candidate can claim to have been treated unfairly.”
He also reiterated Professor Yunus’s consistent assurance that the election will be free, fair, and inclusive.
Regarding the discussion on the Proportional Representation (PR) system, Alam stated, “Talks are ongoing with the National Consensus Commission and political parties. In many countries, it takes three to four years to finalize such decisions. But due to the prudence of our political parties, we’ve already reached consensus on eight issues. Discussions are ongoing on seven more, while three matters remain pending. We believe positive outcomes will emerge from all discussions.”
Addressing concerns over law and order, he said, “The government is actively working to maintain stability. You’ll notice that in almost every incident, we’ve had positive outcomes. No one can say that a crime occurred and the culprit wasn’t caught. We are taking swift action, especially in sensitive cases like rape, where justice is being ensured quickly.”
When asked whether the government has decided to make Gopalganj a separate administrative entity, Alam replied, “The people of Gopalganj are citizens of Bangladesh, just like everyone else. This government does not discriminate. No decision has been made to separate Gopalganj.”
On the possibility of a "July Charter" being announced on August 5, he said, “We can’t confirm that yet, but efforts are underway. In many countries, political settlements like this take years. Here, our political parties are meeting and talking almost daily. For the remaining unresolved issues, attempts are being made to bring everyone to a consensus. We believe the charter will be announced with the collective agreement of all parties.”
The TEDx Cumilla University event featured 11 speakers from diverse fields including social sciences, journalism, technology, music, and entrepreneurship. The theme for this year was “The Next Wave,” focusing on future possibilities and directions.
Notable speakers included Cumilla University Vice Chancellor Professor Md. Haydar Ali, news presenter Farabi Hafiz, and astrophotographer Zubair Kawlin.
Organizers explained that TEDx is a TED-licensed platform based on the principle of “Ideas Change Everything.” TED, a U.S.-based nonprofit media organization, hosts global events featuring speakers who share innovative ideas, personal experiences, and transformative insights in 18-minute talks.
Cumilla University previously held its first TEDx event on September 30, 2023, after receiving official permission on April 17 of that year.
