BNP has announced plans for a nationwide movement next month, demanding an immediate parliamentary election under the interim government and measures to reduce the soaring prices of essential commodities.
The decision was finalised during the party’s standing committee meeting on Monday (27 January) night, multiple sources within the party have confirmed.
This marks the first political mobilisation demanding elections under the current interim administration.
Out of power for nearly 18 years, BNP will conduct this movement in two phases across the country, insisting that the national election be held by December this year.
However, the interim government has yet to provide any assurance regarding the election timeline.
Amid this uncertainty, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, at a programme in Thakurgaon on 23 December, urged party leaders and activists to prepare for a movement to reclaim voting rights.
BNP intends to exert pressure on the interim government to conduct the election after necessary reforms.
Additionally, it plans to organise rallies nationwide, including in Dhaka, ahead of Ramadan to demand price reductions on essential goods.
The party will finalise the movement’s schedule soon in a meeting with its divisional organisational secretaries.
This will be BNP’s first major street movement since the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, completed six months in office.
Standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy told the newspaper, "Our movement has been ongoing. We have been engaged in distributing winter clothing, rehabilitating injured activists, and conducting political activities down to the ward level based on our 31-point reform proposal for state restructuring. For the past 16 years, we fought to restore democracy and bring down Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic government."
"The student-led movement led to the government’s fall, but democracy has yet to be restored. If past caretaker governments could hold elections within 90 days, why can’t this administration do the same within the next six months? If the government is sincere, elections can be held by July-August."
He further asserted that the interim government lacks the authority to amend laws or constitutional provisions but can issue ordinances, which the next elected government would implement.
The BNP leader dismissed the possibility of any proclamation from the interim government or student movements, stating that such declarations must come from an elected parliament.
For months, BNP has been advocating for elections following minimal reforms within a reasonable timeframe.
The party maintains that elections can be conducted by July-August this year and has reiterated its position.
The interim government, however, has indicated that polls could take place anytime between December this year and June next year.
BNP considers the prospect of elections being delayed until June 2026 "excessively prolonged."
During Monday night’s standing committee meeting, several members argued that an extensive timeframe was unnecessary, asserting that a fair and credible election could be held by July-August this year.
BNP remains hopeful for a national election by December at the latest.
Sources also revealed that the meeting extensively discussed the July Revolution manifesto drafted by student groups opposing systemic discrimination.
BNP leaders reviewed the draft submitted to the party, deliberating on possible modifications.
While BNP has concerns over certain aspects of the manifesto, it does not intend to reject the student initiative outright.
The party decided to refine and develop the manifesto into a structured proposal.
BNP leaders believe that certain elements of the student draft, such as the proposal to abolish the founding principles of the 1972 Constitution, are untenable.
Several standing committee members emphasised that while the Liberation War remains the foundation of Bangladesh, the nation has achieved significant milestones beyond that, which must be incorporated into any political declaration.
The student groups proposed presenting the manifesto in the form of a "backdated proclamation," but BNP finds such an approach impractical.
The student draft suggested that the declaration be retroactively effective from 5 August 2024, a proposition BNP leaders deemed unnecessary.
They insisted that any political proclamation should be officially declared only after achieving a broader consensus.
According to party insiders, BNP has already revised the student draft, and another emergency standing committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday (29 January) to finalise the changes.
Once the amendments are approved, BNP will engage its allied parties in discussions before presenting the revised document in any dialogue with the government.
Monday night's standing committee meeting was held at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, commencing at 8:10 pm and concluding at 10:00 pm.
Acting chairperson Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting virtually from London.
Other attendees included Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku (virtually), Selima Rahman, Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, and Dr AZM Zahid Hossain (virtually).
