The chief adviser’s recent hint at holding the national election either swiftly in early 2025 or strategically delayed towards 2026 has set off ripples of mixed reactions within the BNP.
While some leaders cautiously welcomed the signal as a step towards ending the prolonged political uncertainty, others remained sceptical, calling it “an unfinished promise without a map.”
BNP insiders believe that a quick election could open doors for a much-needed political resolution, while a delayed one might be a tactical ploy to buy time and extend the government’s influence.
“It’s good to finally hear about the election after months of ambiguity over the timeline—whether rushed or stretched—seems to be a strategic balancing act. Without a clear roadmap, we’re left guessing the government’s true intentions,” said a senior BNP leader.
The mixed reactions reflect both hope and suspicion within the party, as BNP leaders assess the challenges of preparing for a possible early showdown or bracing for a prolonged wait that could shift the political ground beneath them.
The BNP leaders said their party wants electoral reforms to be completed within the next 4-5 months while the election to be held by the end of August next year, allowing the government to complete its one-year tenure.
They also believe that the chief adviser’s mention of the election being held by the first half of 2026 could be part of a strategy to negotiate with political parties over the tenure of his government.
BNP leaders said the government might agree to arrange the election by December next year through discussions with political parties.
They said they may allow the current government until December next year to conduct the election if most other political parties agree to give that much time.
Earlier, on Monday, Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus indicated that the 13th National Parliamentary Election might be scheduled for the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026.
"Broadly speaking, the election could be scheduled between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026," he said in a televised speech to the nation. Dr Yunus reiterated his appeal for the completion of all major reforms before the elections.
“We’re not fully satisfied with what the chief adviser said about the next election in his address to the nation, as he did not clearly mention any specific timeframe or roadmap. But we feel a bit of relief and hope that the government is at least thinking about the election,” said a BNP standing committee member, wishing anonymity.”
He said that their party's policymakers think that if the government is sincere, it can arrange the election by the middle of next year. "We also believe that a one-year tenure for the government is a logical timeframe for holding the election after making the necessary electoral and other reforms. But some people within the government want to buy time in the name of reforms, merely to prolong their power.”
The BNP leader said the different reform commissions formed by the government can come up with their proposals by the end of the current month.
“Later, the government can hold talks with political parties on the proposals and formulate a framework of reforms through consensus. The political government, which can form a government through the people's votes in the election, will then implement the reform framework in parliament. This should be the process, but the government is complicating it with the intention of perpetuating its stay in power,” he said.
The BNP leader said they will now talk to the political parties that joined them in the simultaneous movement against the Sheikh Hasina regime regarding the election timeframe. “We’ll all speak out in favour of holding the election by the middle of next year. At most, we may wait until December next year for the election. We think the government may finally agree to arrange the election within next year.”
He said that their standing committee will discuss the issue with great importance in their next meeting and work out their next course of action.
Contacted, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said it is possible to hold a fair and impartial election before next December if the current interim government and the Election Commission are sincere about it.
He said the government should arrange the election as soon as possible, as an elected government is necessary to steer the country on the right path, thwarting all conspiracies and overcoming existing problems.
“If the election timeframe is declared, the people will become election-oriented. They will not tolerate conspiracies if they are focused on the election. The interim government should understand that an early election will be beneficial for them and the country’s people,” Mosharraf viewed.
Another party standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud said they will carefully monitor the government’s activities following the chief adviser’s announcement regarding the election.
“It should not take too long to arrange the election. If the government is sincere, the election can be organised promptly, in line with the people’s wishes,” he said.
Khosru said the government could outline the reforms, but it would be the elected government that implements those reforms through parliament, thus upholding the democratic process.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the chief adviser only provided an idea about the election’s timing in his address to the nation, "There’s no clear roadmap.
He (CA) did not specify how much time is needed for the necessary reforms in specific areas. “We hope he’ll come up with a roadmap, specifying the timing for both the reforms and the elections."
