Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus proposed on Friday that the minimum voting age in Bangladesh should be lowered to 17 years. “To give youth a say in shaping their future, I believe the voting age should be set at 17,” Yunus stated in a video message presented during an election dialogue organised by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies (FBS) at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh. “I may or may not choose that age. Suppose, I am in favour of making young people voters early. The more young they are, the more interested they are in change — this is my argument. The youth gives them strength,” the chief adviser said. Responding to Yunus's suggestion, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expressed concerns on Saturday over warning that it could burden the Election Commission and potentially delay the electoral process. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, criticised the proposal, saying it would necessitate the preparation of a new voter list. “This raises fears of further delays and wasted time,” Alamgir remarked, adding that there is a perception among the public that the interim government is intentionally stalling the election process. Alamgir argued that Yunus should not have made such a suggestion without first consulting relevant stakeholders. “As the chief executive, your statements carry significant weight. When you propose reducing the voting age, it places pressure on the Election Commission to act accordingly,” he said. However, Yunus, 84, who assumed leadership of the interim government following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, said, “I do not know what the Election Reform Commission will recommend. But if the majority of the people of the country like the age to be recommended by the Commission, I will accept it to reach a consensus.” The BNP leader also emphasised that the matter should have been left to the Election Commission to decide, noting that the current voting age of 18 is widely accepted. “If the age is to be reduced, the Election Commission should propose it and engage in discussions with political parties before making a decision,” he added. In his Victory Day address on December 16, Yunus hinted that elections could take place by early 2026. “Broadly speaking, the election can be scheduled between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026,” Yunus said, adding that the polls would occur after the voter list is updated. (With Inputs from PTI)
