“The victory of the people was achieved through the tremendous sacrifices made by students and the masses during the July uprising. However, the unnecessary delay in organizing the election has left the people feeling disappointed and angry,” the Dhaka Tribune reported, citing the party’s statement.
The statement highlighted that BNP’s national standing committee, during an emergency virtual meeting, reiterated its call to hold elections by December this year, considering Ramadan, secondary and higher secondary or equivalent examinations, and prevailing weather conditions.
The meeting, chaired by BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, was called in response to the chief adviser’s announcement, which overlooked the wishes of a nation fighting to reclaim its voting rights through ongoing struggles.
Also Read: Bangladesh elections anticipated between Dec 2025 and June 2026, indicates Muhammad Yunus
“The people of this country, deprived of their fundamental voting rights for nearly fifteen years, continue their fight to restore democracy through elections, despite facing disappearances, murders, imprisonments, injuries, and torture,” it explained.
“The meeting expressed concern that citizens may justifiably doubt the likelihood of a free and fair election under this government.” The BNP standing committee noted that scheduling the election in early April could create complications, due to adverse weather and the difficulties of conducting campaigns and election activities during Ramadan, which could ultimately be used as justification for postponing the elections.
It criticized the chief adviser’s address for failing to provide a clear rationale for why holding the election by December would not be possible.
The statement noted that Yunus mentioned topics such as ports and corridors — subjects not included in the interim government’s primary mandates of justice, reform, and elections.
“The meeting expressed outrage at his choice of language in the speech, which crossed the boundaries of political decorum,” the statement added.
Yunus, who assumed office following the removal of the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime in August last year, asserted that the interim government’s main responsibility is to conduct a clean, peaceful, festive, and inclusive election.
His announcement comes amid increasing pressure from former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s BNP and various other groups to conduct elections by December.
The student-led NCP and several right-wing groups, however, argued that elections should be delayed until the “reforms” and “justice” are addressed.
