Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Saturday held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP) to discuss the country’s deteriorating political climate and law and order ahead of the national elections, following the shooting of Dhaka-8 aspirant Sharif Osman Hadi.
The meeting, held at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka around noon, focused on political stability, election security and the need for unity among parties opposed to authoritarianism.
Leaders present said the chief adviser called the talks amid growing concerns that escalating political rhetoric and violence could destabilize the pre-election environment.
The BNP delegation included standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and retired Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Jamaat-e-Islami was represented by Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar and Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer.
NCP convener Nahid Islam and the party’s chief organizer for the southern region, Hasnat Abdullah, also attended. Inquilab Mancha member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul were present as well.
All parties demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack on Hadi, the spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha and a prospective independent candidate for Dhaka-8.
Participants said there was consensus that political unity must be preserved and that internal disputes should not create openings for forces seeking to derail the election process.
According to those present, Yunus described the attack on Hadi as part of a broader conspiracy to undermine the gains of the July uprising and urged political leaders to remain united.
He cautioned that verbal battles among anti-authoritarian forces should not be allowed to weaken their collective position or create political instability.
Hadi was shot on Friday afternoon and remains under treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
Doctors said late Friday night that he was not yet out of danger. In a related development, Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced a reward of Tk 5 million for information leading to the arrest of the gunman.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said the chief adviser had convened the talks to reinforce unity among forces opposed to authoritarianism.
He acknowledged that political disagreements ahead of elections are inevitable but warned against pushing debates to a point where “dark forces” could exploit divisions.
“The attack on Osman Hadi is essentially an attack on Bangladesh itself,” Ahmed said. “We may have political debates, but we will not allow them to reach a level that destroys our unity.”
He alleged that groups opposed to elections and democracy were behind the shooting and insisted that such attacks would not obstruct Bangladesh’s democratic transition.
Ahmed also said such forces were active both inside and outside the country. “If the fallen authoritarian forces think that a few isolated incidents can stop the election, that is a grave miscalculation,” he added.
He further raised the issue of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s anticipated return to Bangladesh on December 25, urging the interim government to ensure his security and to treat the matter as a top priority.
NCP convener Nahid Islam said the chief adviser had called the meeting to discuss how to confront an increasingly hostile pre-election environment.
He described the attack on Hadi as more than an assault on an individual candidate, calling it the beginning of a broader plot surrounding the election.
Islam claimed preparations were underway to rehabilitate the Awami League in mainstream politics by questioning the July uprising, pointing to the re-emergence of pro-Awami League intellectuals in the media, the use of the “Joy Bangla” slogan and efforts to ready the Jatiya Party for electoral participation.
He alleged that such plans would not have been possible without India’s patronage and said New Delhi should be held accountable.
He also warned of a growing competition among political parties to attract Awami League votes, saying failure to remain cautious could lead to a repetition of violence like the attack on Hadi.
Islam said an all-party programme would be announced against the Awami League at the call of Hadi’s family.
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said anti-authoritarian forces were increasingly treating one another as rivals due to narrow party interests, creating divisions that their opponents were exploiting.
He urged leaders to refrain from statements that fuel internal rifts and called for a return to unity.
“In recent times, our rhetoric has increasingly involved blaming one another, which has given our opponents an opportunity,” Parwar said. “We must remain united as we were before.”
