Staff Reporter :
Chief Advisor (CA) Dr. Muhammad Yunus has assured that the interim government will not unnecessarily delay the upcoming national elections.
This assurance was given during a meeting with representatives of various Islamic parties at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Saturday, 31st August.
Following the meeting, representatives of the Islamic parties informed the media that they had urged Dr. Yunus to expedite the creation of a conducive environment for the elections after implementing the necessary reforms.
The leaders reported that Dr. Yunus promised to resolve all issues within a reasonable timeframe and lead the country toward elections without unnecessary delays.
During the discussions, the Islamic party leaders presented several demands, including ensuring a balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, limiting the Prime Minister to two terms, and implementing constitutional reforms related to the electoral system.
Dr. Yunus also called on the Islamic parties to remain vigilant in maintaining communal harmony during the upcoming Durga Puja and to prevent any disorder.
This meeting marks the beginning of Dr. Yunus’s dialogue with political parties and alliances, three weeks after he assumed the role of Chief Advisor of the interim government.
The discussions began at 3:00 PM with leaders from seven organisations, including Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Hefazat-e-Islam, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Khelafat Andolan, Islami Andolan, and Nezame Islam.
Dr. Yunus’s advisory council assumed charge on 8th August, following the fall of the Awami League government on 5th August, which was precipitated by a student-led movement.
Earlier, on 12th August, Dr. Yunus held separate meetings with several
political leaders, including BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, CPB’s Shah Alam, Gano Forum’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna, BJP’s Andaleeve Rahman Partha, AB Party’s A.F.M. Solaiman Chowdhury, Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Nurul Haque Nur, Democratic Left Alliance’s Haroon Chowdhury, and NDM’s Bobby Hajjaj.
On 29th August, a delegation led by BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also met with Dr. Yunus. After the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul informed the media that the Chief Advisor would gradually engage in discussions with various political parties.
The discussions, which took place at the state guest house Jamuna from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, included leaders from multiple Islamic parties, including Hefazat-e-Islam.
The first of these meetings, which began around 3:00 PM, involved two factions of Khelafat Majlish. Invitations had also been extended to the Jatiya Party, led by GM Quader.
During the meeting, leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam and six other Islamic parties proposed significant changes to the political landscape.
One of their primary proposals was to limit the tenure of the Prime Minister to two terms, ensuring that no individual could hold the position for more than this period.
Additionally, they urged that reforms be implemented promptly, with national elections to follow within a reasonable timeframe.
After the meeting, Hefazat-e-Islam leader and Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Maulana Mamunul Haque, addressed the press at around 4:00 PM. He highlighted the importance of enforcing a two-term limit for the Prime Minister and emphasized the need for timely national elections following necessary reforms.
Mamunul Haque further noted that Dr. Yunus had expressed agreement with their proposals and was inclined to move towards elections after the required reforms were completed.
When asked about the specific duration of the “reasonable time” for implementing these reforms, Mamunul Haque clarified that no exact timeline was proposed during the discussions.
He added that leaders from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Nezame Islam, and Khelafat Andolan participated in the meeting.
The reform proposals presented by the Islamic parties focused heavily on the election system.
Mamunul Haque stated, “We proposed fundamental reforms to ensure that all voters across the country are adequately represented in the national parliament.”
He also advocated for a balance of power to prevent the concentration of authority in the hands of the Prime Minister, which could potentially lead to autocracy.
In addition to the proposals for political reform, Mamunul Haque raised concerns about the disappearance of individuals linked to Hefazat-e-Islam movements, where numerous cases were filed, and many people were killed or injured.
He called for the formation of a tribunal, if necessary, to ensure swift justice for the victims and to hold those responsible accountable, including those who issued the orders.
Furthermore, Mamunul Haque urged that no anti-Islamic laws be enacted and requested a one-month timeframe for the withdrawal of cases against Hefazat-e-Islam, either through executive orders or legal procedures.
Following these discussions, other parties, including Bangladesh Islami Andolon, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, Bangladesh Jasod, the 12-Party Alliance, and Gano Forum, also held meetings with Dr. Yunus to exchange views.
LDP leader Oli Ahmed, speaking to the media, mentioned that they intended to submit several reform proposals, focusing on the election commission, police, administration, and judiciary.
He emphasized the importance of these reforms over the election timeline.
Sources indicate that after the first phase of view exchange meetings, the government plans to engage in more detailed discussions on specific issues with various parties and alliances in the second phase, with the aim of preparing a roadmap in a short time.
The Chief Advisor has already held talks with major parties, including BNP, Ganatantra Mancha, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Communist Party on August 12-13.
In this ongoing dialogue process, the Awami League, which was ousted from power on August 5, has been excluded, along with its 14-party alliance partners.
The interim government, formed on August 8, was established after discussions between political parties and the military, without the involvement of the Awami League.