Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has urged that the next national election be held before Ramadan, rejecting the government's proposal to hold polls by June 2026.
Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman made the statement on Wednesday (16 April), during a meeting with a visiting US delegation at a private venue in Gulshan, Dhaka.
He informed the delegation that Jamaat does not support the idea of delaying the election until mid-2026, as indicated by the current government.
Instead, the party favours an election ahead of the upcoming Ramadan, which is expected to commence at the end of February 2026. This position, he said, had been clearly conveyed to the visiting American team.
Dr Rahman also called upon the United States to consider lifting existing tariffs on Bangladesh in light of the country’s present political and economic climate.
This marks the first visit to Dhaka by senior US officials since the mass protests in July. The delegation includes Nicole Chulick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs; Andrew Herrup, Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific; and Susan Stevenson, the US Chargé d’Affaires in Myanmar.
The delegation is scheduled to meet with leaders of various political parties.
Meetings are also planned on Thursday with Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.
