Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus has assured the government’s commitment to holding national elections by December this year, according to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
After a nearly 90-minute meeting with the Chief Adviser at Jamuna on Monday evening, Fakhrul briefed reporters about the discussions.
"The Chief Adviser and his team assured us that they are working to organise the elections as soon as possible. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to hold the elections by December," Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader expressed optimism about the Chief Adviser’s commitment and urged the announcement of a detailed roadmap to ensure the timely completion of the electoral process.
"We hope the Chief Adviser will announce a roadmap that aligns with the people's expectations. We expect the elections to be completed within December following that roadmap," he added.
The BNP has been vocal in demanding a transparent and credible electoral process, emphasising the importance of public trust in the government’s assurances regarding timely elections.
When asked about the possibility of local government elections before the national election, Fakhrul firmly stated, "We will not agree under any circumstances. We have made it clear before, and we reiterate that no elections will be held before the national election."
In response to a query about the government’s timeline for an electoral roadmap, Fakhrul said, "That decision rests with them, but they are likely to announce something by the 15th of this month."
He emphasised that the BNP had once again pressed the government to hold elections promptly. "We urged them to implement the necessary reforms, some of which they have already initiated, such as forming an Election Commission. We discussed the need for consensus and agreement to expedite the election process," he added.
Fakhrul stressed the need for accountability within the administration, saying, "We have called for the removal and legal action against individuals in the administration who have supported fascism and harmed the country. Similarly, we demanded action to recover stolen money and bring those responsible for economic mismanagement under the purview of the law."
He also raised the issue of withdrawing politically motivated cases against leaders and activists of the party over the past 15–16 years. "We discussed a principled decision on withdrawing false cases, and they [the Chief Advisor’s team] agreed on this matter," Fakhrul noted.
Highlighting the government’s failure to control inflation, Fakhrul remarked, "One of this government’s significant failures is its inability to control commodity prices. They assured us that they are working on these issues and will try to address them."
The meeting was attended by a three-member BNP delegation, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee members Salahuddin Ahmed and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.
