Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to holding the general election and referendum on February 12, according to an official statement released Wednesday. Yunus made the remarks during a late-night meeting on Tuesday at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka with two former senior US diplomats, Albert Gombis and Morse Tan, who served during the Donald Trump administration.

He acknowledged the widespread circulation of misinformation and deliberate attempts to create confusion around the election process but emphasized that the Interim Government remains resolute in its decision to proceed with the polls as scheduled. “Regardless of what anyone says, the election will be held on February 12 — neither earlier nor later,” Yunus stated, assuring that the vote would be free, fair, peaceful, and conducted in a celebratory atmosphere. The Chief Adviser further stressed that the Interim Government would maintain strict neutrality during the election period, ensuring fair administration and equal opportunities for all political parties.

Gombis, a former Acting Under Secretary of State, and Tan, a former Ambassador-at-Large, are visiting Bangladesh ahead of the pivotal elections. During their hour-long discussion, the participants covered a broad range of issues including the upcoming elections, the July Revolution and its aftermath, youth activism, the July Charter and referendum, misinformation targeting the polls, the Rohingya crisis, and the potential for truth and reconciliation in post-July Bangladesh.

Yunus said his government is actively advocating for a “Yes” vote in the referendum, noting that public approval of the July Charter would mark the beginning of a new democratic era and eliminate any future possibility of authoritarian rule. He added that supporters of the former autocratic regime were behind much of the fake news campaign but noted that citizens are becoming increasingly capable of identifying AI-generated misinformation. Gombis agreed that disinformation has become one of the major threats to democracy globally and called for stronger measures to counter it. Both diplomats praised Yunus for his leadership in guiding the nation over the past 18 months.

When asked about the feasibility of a truth and reconciliation process similar to post-apartheid South Africa, Yunus said such an initiative was not currently possible in Bangladesh due to the former regime’s refusal to acknowledge its actions. He noted that truth and reconciliation require admission of wrongdoing, remorse, and a supportive environment — conditions he said were still absent. SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.