Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has assured that the upcoming national election in February will be free, fair, transparent, and celebratory.

He made the statement during a meeting with a European Parliament delegation led by MEP Munir Satouri.

Yunus highlighted the revival of student union elections in several universities after decades, noting the surge of enthusiasm among young people. “Many will be voting for the first time in over 15 years, and they will turn out in record numbers,” he said.

The hour-long meeting also touched on government reforms, Bangladesh’s development journey, democratic transformation, and the Rohingya crisis. European lawmakers described the election as a “turning point” for Bangladesh, with one Dutch MEP remarking that the country is “one of the few where things seem to be moving in the right direction.”

Dr. Yunus expressed gratitude for the EU’s continued support and called for enhanced aid for the 1 million-plus Rohingya refugees hosted in Bangladesh.