After months of rallying for the declaration of an electoral roadmap from the interim government, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) now appears to be adopting a more measured approach.
Although it had hinted during Ramadan at launching a hard-hitting movement after Eid, no such indication emerged from the party's Standing Committee meeting held on Tuesday, according to media reports.
Comments from several Standing Committee members to the press suggest that confrontation is no longer the party's priority. Senior leaders indicated that the BNP prefers resolving electoral uncertainty through dialogue with the current interim administration.
During Tuesday’s meeting, multiple BNP leaders pointed out that the party has extended various forms of cooperation to the government and intends to continue doing so. In this context, they are reluctant to initiate aggressive political programmes.
The party’s top brass hopes the interim government will consider the prevailing national realities, political climate, and international expectations and hold general elections by December.
The BNP believes that a swift return to the ballot would ease existing crises and restore national stability—vital for the country’s economy.
Nevertheless, to gauge the government’s actual intent regarding the forthcoming general election, BNP leaders are seeking an audience with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. According to party sources, a formal request has already been made for such a meeting, as per the decision of the Standing Committee.
During this meeting, BNP leaders plan to reiterate their demand for general elections by December.
They are expected to press Yunus for a specific date for announcing the roadmap.
BNP leader Salah Uddin Ahmed told the media, "The Chief Adviser has repeatedly spoken of holding elections by December this year. Accordingly, we will urge him to announce the roadmap. We also wish to clarify what he means by minor or major reforms. The reform process is ongoing, and we’ve been holding meetings with the National Consensus Commission. There is no bar to declaring the roadmap during this process."
Party insiders say April will be a crucial month for observing the government's stance. If there is no tangible progress from the government in announcing the electoral framework within this month, the BNP plans to initiate a nationwide programme centring on the issue of voting rights.
It will also seek to mobilise its alliance partners to exert pressure on the government and compel it to declare the roadmap. The BNP is also prepared to intensify its movement if the government fails to act swiftly.
The party maintains that all necessary electoral reforms can be implemented through a single ordinance by the interim government, with any remaining reforms to be addressed by the next elected parliament through political consensus.
BNP will determine its next steps regarding the election roadmap following the proposed meeting with the chief adviser.
In a related decision, the BNP Standing Committee resolved to mark Pahela Baishakh on 14 April with large-scale festivities.
Cultural celebrations showcasing local heritage will be organised in Dhaka and across metropolitan and district centres.
The meeting also strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli atrocities and genocide against the Palestinian people.
It resolved to stage a significant protest in the capital soon, while BNP-affiliated organisations are already conducting various protest programmes. The party will also express solidarity with the "March for Gaza" to be held in Dhaka on Saturday.
