The BNP is still uncertain about the government's true intentions regarding the upcoming national parliamentary elections. The party believes that ambiguity surrounding the election is growing with each passing day. To gain clarity on the matter, a BNP delegation wishes to meet with the Chief Adviser of the interim government.
According to a reliable BNP source, the party has already requested an appointment with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. However, as of Tuesday, no response had been received from the adviser's office.
The source further stated that during a meeting of the BNP’s policymaking body, the National Standing Committee, held last Monday, it was decided that the party would seek a meeting with the Chief Adviser as soon as possible. If the adviser's office grants a time slot, the party delegation will proceed with the meeting.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is currently in Singapore for medical treatment and is expected to return to the country on April 16. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether the meeting will take place this week in his absence.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told Prothom Alo, “We have requested a meeting with the Chief Adviser. The meeting will depend on when he gives us a time. We want to meet him along with our Secretary General (Mirza Fakhrul).”
Speaking to BNP leaders, it was learned that they have met with the Chief Adviser in the past on various party and national issues. However, this time, the initiative taken by the party is somewhat different. BNP intends to directly convey to the Chief Adviser that it wants the national election to be held by December this year. The party will also seek to understand the government's true stance on the election. In particular, BNP leaders will try to get specific clarity on when the election roadmap will be announced.
In response to a question about what BNP would do if an election within this year is not guaranteed, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Prothom Alo, “BNP will take whatever political decisions are necessary in the interest of the country and the people. The party has fought hard for elections — many leaders and activists have sacrificed their lives, been forcibly disappeared, or faced persecution. We have confidence in the interim government. We believe the election will be held in December this year. BNP is preparing accordingly, as are other parties. Some have already started the nomination process and have even hit the campaign trail.”
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 last year, following a student-led mass uprising, the BNP has been consistently demanding national elections. The party is calling for urgent electoral reforms followed by swift general elections. However, many BNP leaders view the stance of several other political groups—such as the National Citizens' Party (NCP), led by youth involved in the uprising, as well as Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan—as somewhat of an obstacle. These parties are advocating for significant reforms and the creation of a proper electoral environment before holding elections. This has sparked wide-ranging debate within the political arena.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a BNP Standing Committee member shared his personal opinion with Prothom Alo on Tuesday, saying, “Whether it's today or tomorrow, the election will eventually have to be held. But amidst all these complications, the timing of the election is still unclear to me.”
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has already indicated a possible timeline for the election. He has stated that the interim government is planning to hold the vote either at the end of this year or in the first half of next year. During UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s visit to Dhaka in March, Professor Yunus discussed various reform initiatives and the upcoming national election. He told the UN chief that if political parties agree on a “short reform package,” the election could be held in December. However, if they opt for a “comprehensive reform package,” the election would be pushed to June next year.
BNP considers this statement by the Chief Adviser to be ambiguous, which is why the party leaders are eager to meet with him soon.
BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed told Prothom Alo, “The Chief Adviser has mentioned multiple times that the election will be held by December this year. Based on that, we will urge him to announce the election roadmap.” He added, “We want to understand what exactly the Chief Adviser meant by ‘short’ and ‘comprehensive’ reforms. The reform process is ongoing, and we are also holding meetings with the National Consensus Commission. It’s not the case that a roadmap cannot be announced while reforms are in progress.”
According to BNP sources, the party will closely observe the government’s stance throughout the month of April. If there is no positive progress from the government regarding the announcement of the election roadmap within this period, BNP plans to launch a nationwide campaign focusing on the issue of voting rights. Alongside, allied parties in the simultaneous movement will also be mobilized. The main objective will be to pressure the government into announcing the election framework. If a roadmap is not announced soon, the party also has plans to intensify the movement.
BNP Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo told Prothom Alo, “It’s not just BNP—people across the country believe that a democratic and elected representative government is essential. BNP has been struggling for a free, fair, and acceptable election for the past 15 years, which eventually led to the fall of the previous government. But the expected election has still not taken place. Now, if we don’t receive a timely election roadmap, then there is no alternative but to resort to a movement.”
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