Zakir Hossain From Dhaka
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has urged the interim government to hold elections by December, warning that any delay could lead to instability and public unrest. This comes after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus suggested that elections might be postponed until 2026 to ensure a fair and credible electoral process.
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been in power since August last year, following mass student protests that forced PM Sheikh Hasina to flee to India. While Yunus argues that reforms are needed before elections can take place, BNP leaders insist that any delay beyond December would create political complications.
“December is a generally agreed-upon schedule. Beyond December would make things more complicated,” BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan said in an interview with Reuters from Washington. He warned that further delays could fuel public resentment, potentially leading to instability.
Khan also confirmed that BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, is preparing to return from exile in London once elections are announced, as legal hurdles against him and his mother, former PM Khaleda Zia, have been eased. Zia, who has been receiving treatment in London for liver cirrhosis and heart problems, is reportedly in better health but unlikely to return to active politics.
BNP’s main political rival, the Awami League, has largely fragmented following Hasina’s departure. Meanwhile, the newly formed student-led Jatiya Nagorik Party is gaining traction, positioning itself as an alternative to the two traditional parties. However, BNP remains confident of securing a majority if elections are held on schedule. “We will try to convince the government that the best way forward is to call an election as soon as possible and go for an honorable exit,” Khan said, emphasizing the need for a timely transition.
While BNP has no plans for a pre-election coalition, Khan stated that the party would be open to forming a government with other democratic forces post-election. “After the election, we’d be happy to form a government with everyone who is in favor of democracy,” he added.