Reza Mahmud and Abu Jakir :
The clamour for holding Bangladesh’s next general election is intensifying, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5.
The demand for elections is being fueled by the frustration of the public, who have been deprived of their voting rights in the last three elections, all held under the controversial regime of Sheikh Hasina.
Political parties across the spectrum—including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and other democratic entities—are united in their demand for timely elections.
Party leaders warn that delaying the election could lead to the emergence of a “third force” and create further political instability.
These parties have also called on the interim government, led by Dr. Mohammad Yunus, to avoid using reforms as an excuse to prolong their tenure.
They argue that reforms should be overseen by an elected government to ensure proper public participation, as the people are the true stakeholders of the state.
In a conversation with this correspondent, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir emphasised the need for a reformed and elected parliament.
“There is no alternative to reforming the country through an elected parliament. The interim government should not be allowed to remain indefinitely.
Delaying elections in the name of reforms is unacceptable,” he said. Alamgir also stressed that meaningful reforms are impossible without public participation, making an elected government essential.
Similarly, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain reiterated that the government must announce an election date without delay.
“We have repeatedly said that holding elections should not be delayed under the pretext of reforms,” he told The New Nation on Friday.
He added that if the interim government cannot complete the reform process, the next elected government should take over and finish the necessary tasks.
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also expressed his concerns, calling for the interim government to step down respectfully by organising an election at an appropriate time.
“If the election is delayed for too long, we risk disorder, the growth of unwanted elements, and the rise of a third force,” he warned.
He urged that reforms and the election roadmap should be developed in consultation with political parties and stakeholders from all sectors.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Publicity Secretary Motiur Rahman Akanda echoed similar sentiments.
He criticised the interim government’s plan to announce an election date within 18 months, calling the timeframe too long.
“We believe this is an excessive delay for declaring an election roadmap,” Akanda said, urging the government to expedite its reforms and hold the election sooner.
Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Comrade Saiful Haque also stressed the importance of addressing reform priorities in consultation with political parties.
“The main task of the interim government is to engage in discussions with political parties to determine reform priorities,” he said.
Haque called for a swift reconstitution of the Election Commission, updating of the voter list, and prompt announcement of the general election date.
Meanwhile, the political landscape of Bangladesh has been thrust into the spotlight following comments from Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman and Interim Government Head Dr. Muhammad Yunus regarding the timing of the next general election.
On Tuesday, General Waqar-uz-Zaman affirmed his support for Dr. Yunus’s interim government, committing to elections within the next 18 months.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Reuters, General Zaman emphasised the need for reforms before elections and pledged his full support for the interim government’s efforts.
“I will stand by him, no matter what, to ensure he can complete his program,” the army chief asserted, signaling firm backing for the government’s reform agenda.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus also echoed the army chief’s stance during a meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
He assured that once reforms and the voter list are finalised, an election date will be announced.
Dr. Yunus highlighted that six specialised commissions have been set up to oversee critical areas of reform, including electoral laws, civil administration, law enforcement, the judiciary, anti-corruption measures, and constitutional amendments.