Govt Firm on February Election Schedule: Asif Nazrul

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul reaffirmed on Tuesday that the government remains fully committed to holding the national election in February, as earlier declared by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Cabinet Division, he said:

“The government is moving ahead with all necessary preparations. The election will be held in February—there is no change in that position.”

Political Statements ‘Part of the Process’

Dr. Nazrul noted that remarks from political parties about the election schedule are part of Bangladesh’s political culture.

“Parties make statements for their own purposes, but the responsibility of holding the election lies with the government, not with them. On behalf of the government, I want to state clearly—the election will take place in February,” he emphasized.

According to him, such political discourse is nothing new in the country. “Over the years, we have seen similar debates. This is part of the process and should be understood in that way.”

He further stressed that since Chief Adviser Yunus is a globally respected figure, there is no scope to deviate from his declared commitment.Focus on Anti-Corruption Measures

Dr. Nazrul also addressed issues of corruption in public projects, citing past controversies where costs were deliberately inflated, such as in land acquisition and power development projects.

“You all remember the so-called pillow scandal. We do not want a repeat of that. This is why legal reforms are being undertaken, following the recommendations of the ACC Reform Commission. An experienced consultant has already been appointed to start work,” he explained.He clarified that matters of inflated project costs largely fall under the jurisdiction of the Planning Ministry and Finance Ministry, but the government is determined to tackle high-level corruption.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission is being strengthened to deal with such challenges,” he added.