Reza Mahmud :
Awaiting London meeting between the Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman would resolve the ongoing deadlock regarding the election timeline, optimistic stakeholders opined.
Long disputes were witnessing over the next polls dateline while the BNP has stressed holding it by December while Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, in his national address on June 6, announced that the election would be held in the first half of April next year. This announcement has been met with strong opposition from the BNP.
The interim government said the minimum reform work needed such time before holding the next polls while the BNP reiterated for following their timeline.
In these circumstances the London meeting scheduled to take place on Friday (today) created hope of resolving the political deadlock.
Politicians expressed optimisms that a compromising environment might be created through the meeting.
Both the quarters might come forward from their stance toward negotiations to overcome the deadlock.
When contacted, BNP Standing Committee Senior Member Dr. Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain told The New Nation on Thursday, “We hope that a solution would come from the Yunus-Tarique meeting as the whole nation is eagerly waiting for it.”
“This meeting will lead to constructive discussions aimed at moving politics forward and restoring democracy through free and fair national polls,” he said.
The BNP senior leader said his party high -ups think that this administration is interim one and has to say goodbye after handing over power to any elected government with due dignity and honor.
Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed also highlighted the importance of the meeting between Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman, describing it as not only necessary but also a matter of political responsibility. He believes the discussion could help ease tensions and bridge the gap between the two sides.
Sources said, the BNP Acting Chairman is expected to propose holding the national election in February next year during his scheduled meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Earlier a senior BNP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that the party may be open to some flexibility if Dr. Yunus considers moving the election to February.
“In the meeting, Tarique Rahman will clearly outline why April is unsuitable for the polls and why December would be a better option. However, if the Chief Adviser is willing to compromise and consider February, there could be room for negotiation,” the BNP leader said.
The meeting between Yunus and Tarique, which is set to take place at the Dorchester Hotel in London, is attracting significant attention both domestically and internationally. The one-on-one discussion is expected to occur from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, local time of London.
Senior BNP and alliance leaders believe this meeting could mark a crucial turning point in breaking the political deadlock, facilitating consensus, and creating a pathway for negotiation.
Contacted, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, the President of Nagorik Oikya told The New Nation on Thursday, “As the interim government Chief and the BNP’s Acting Chief are sitting together in London, we are hopeful that a compromising outcome will be found which will be enough to resolve the impasse.”
Manna said, “BNP might not consider April as suitable for holding the next general election. But if the government reconsiders the timeline to January or February, the BNP may accept it, I think.”
The backdrop to this meeting includes Chief Adviser Yunus’s recent announcement that the 13th general election will be held in April next year. This unilateral decision has angered the BNP, which insists that the election should be held by December, calling the April timeline impractical. Party officials have since voiced their frustration and urged the government to reconsider.
Apart from these, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia directed the party leaders not to go conflict with the Yunus led government but start discussions to resolve the issues, which led the party towards negotiations.
BNP insiders, however, are hopeful that this meeting could offer a breakthrough. They view the talks as a critical opportunity to resolve the deadlock over the election date, with the possibility of moving the election forward from April being the key focus.
In addition to the election timeline, BNP leaders expect discussions to cover other significant matters, such as political reforms, the trial of those responsible for the mass killings during the 2007-2008 uprisings, a peaceful transfer of power, the interim government’s safe exit, and Tarique Rahman’s potential return to Bangladesh.
