London Joint Statement: BNP refutes charge of political partiality

Staff Reporter :

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has dismissed criticism from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami over the recent London meeting between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, asserting that the joint statement issued following the talks reflects broader political consensus rather than partiality towards any single party.

Addressing the media on Saturday, Salahuddin refuted Jamaat’s claims of favouritism, noting that the proposed election timeframe – February 2026 – mirrors a position publicly endorsed by Jamaat itself.

“The Jamaat Ameer had previously suggested that the next general election should be held before Ramadan in 2026,” he said. “The timeline discussed in the joint statement is entirely consistent with that proposal. How, then, can this be construed as bias?”

His comments followed a statement issued by Jamaat’s central executive committee earlier in the day, which expressed concern over the format and publicity of the meeting, describing the joint press release as a departure from political convention and a signal of “undue affinity” between the interim government and the BNP.

In response, Salahuddin stressed that the discussions in London form part of a broader series of dialogues between the caretaker administration and various political stakeholders.

“Even Jamaat, in their own statement, acknowledged that their Ameer expressed similar views on the election schedule during a meeting with a foreign delegation on 16 April,” he said. “To now suggest partisanship is misleading.”

The joint declaration, issued on Friday, stated that if adequate preparations are made, the next general election could be held in early February 2026, ahead of Ramadan.

The announcement, unprecedented in its format, has since triggered concern among several smaller political groups, including Jamaat, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, and the National Citizens’ Platform (NCP).

While these groups have not opposed the proposed election timeline itself, they have voiced objections to what they describe as an exclusionary process. Critics argue that issuing a joint statement on such a key national matter with only one party undermines the principles of fairness and inclusivity.

The NCP, a new political platform comprising youth leaders and civil society activists, issued its own statement on Friday night, expressing alarm over what it termed as the government’s “preferential treatment” of the BNP.

The platform called for a more comprehensive political process, urging the government to prioritise national reforms – including the adoption of the July Charter and a roadmap for transitional justice – before committing to electoral timelines.

Salahuddin, however, dismissed the NCP’s stance, suggesting it reflects political inexperience. “This is a newly formed political group, and some degree of naivety is to be expected,” he said. “We urge them to adopt a broader perspective and focus on the national interest.”

The ongoing controversy highlights growing tensions within Bangladesh’s opposition bloc as preparations for the next general election begin to take shape.

While there appears to be general agreement on the proposed election window, unresolved concerns about transparency, inclusivity, and the ethics of political engagement continue to generate friction among stakeholders.