Bangladesh’s interim government adviser on labour and shipping, Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, stated that the interim administration was not given any specific mandate or deadline to hold national elections. Speaking at a press conference on December 8 at the Secretariat, he clarified that when the interim government assumed office on August 8, 2024, no instruction or timeframe was set for conducting elections. He added that the government itself had expressed the intention to hold elections, and political parties’ subsequent activities were beyond government control. Hossain emphasized that the interim government believes elections should take place in due time to restore democratic governance and global democratic norms, which he said had been absent for nearly two decades. Drawing on his experience as a former election commissioner, he declined to comment on whether the current political environment is ready for elections, saying that only the Election Commission could assess that. He further noted that political parties currently appear uncertain about their strategies and future, suggesting that political instability would arise only if the government and parties move in opposite directions.