Reza Mahmud and Abu Jakir :
With political tensions mounting over the timeline for Bangladesh’s next general election, attention is now centred on a highly anticipated meeting in London between Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus and Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman.
The encounter is being viewed as a potential breakthrough in resolving the country’s ongoing political stalemate.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, currently visiting the United Kingdom, is scheduled to meet BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London on June 13.
Speaking to journalists at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Tuesday morning, Fakhrul said the meeting is expected to take place between 9:00am and 11:00am (London time) at the hotel where Yunus is staying.
“This meeting is a critical turning point,” Mirza Fakhrul told journalists. He said, “Our Acting Chairman has been invited by the Chief Adviser himself.” Fakhrul added that the discussion will be vital in addressing several pressing national issues.
Senior party sources have informed that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia urged her party leadership to prioritise negotiation over confrontation. The directive marks a notable shift in tone, aimed at fostering dialogue with the interim government.
The BNP has consistently demanded that the next general election be held no later than December 2025. The interim administration, however, citing the need for continued reforms, has suggested postponing the polls to April 2026. In a nationally broadcast address on Eid-ul-Azha (6 June), Dr Yunus proposed the April timeline – an offer the BNP swiftly rejected, warning of mass agitation should their demands be ignored.
Yet, indications from within the BNP suggest a possible softening of stance. During an Eid meeting with top party officials, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on 7 June, Khaleda Zia reportedly emphasised the importance of meaningful engagement over street protests.
In alignment with these instructions, the BNP’s National Standing Committee convened on Monday night and endorsed a high-level meeting between Tarique Rahman and the Chief Adviser. Scheduled for Friday morning at the London hotel where Dr Yunus is residing, the meeting marks their first formal interaction since Yunus assumed his role as Chief Adviser.
He added, “The Standing Committee fully supports this initiative. We believe it could open a new political horizon and yield constructive solutions to Bangladesh’s enduring political challenges.”
Speculation regarding a Yunus-Tarique meeting had been circulating since the announcement of Dr Yunus’s five-day visit to the United Kingdom. Although the engagement was not included in the Chief Adviser’s official itinerary, both sides have since confirmed the meeting, generating cautious optimism for progress.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, commented: “Tarique Rahman leads a major political party in Bangladesh. A meeting between such key figures sends a constructive message for the nation.”
BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan echoed similar sentiments: “Yes, a one-on-one meeting will take place between Tarique Rahman and Dr Yunus. This is a positive development. We are hopeful that the dispute over the election schedule can be resolved through dialogue.”
Political analysts have welcomed the move. Professor Dr SM Ali Reza of Dhaka University remarked, “The BNP has been out of power for a significant period and naturally fears further delays in the democratic process.
However, compromise is essential to preserve political stability. Negotiation offers the best path forward.”
Dr Yunus’s visit to the UK also includes meetings on broader national issues, including seeking British support for democratic reforms, addressing illicit financial outflows, and promoting UK investment in Bangladesh’s renewable energy sector.
As the date of this crucial London meeting approaches, citizens and political observers alike are hopeful that the spirit of dialogue – rather than discord – will shape the future of Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory.
