Abu Jakir :
In a significant development for Bangladesh’s political landscape, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman agreed in London on Friday to hold the country’s national election by mid-February 2026, contingent upon progress in reforms and justice.
A joint statement released after their nearly two-hour meeting, held in a notably cordial atmosphere at The Dorchester hotel, indicated a growing alignment between two key political figures who have long been at odds.
National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, who read the statement at a subsequent press conference, described the discussion as “hopeful” and said both sides had “expressed satisfaction” with the outcome.
Tarique Rahman, currently living in exile in the UK, proposed holding elections before Ramadan, which is expected to begin around 17 February, subject to the lunar calendar.
Chief Adviser Yunus responded that, if all conditions are met – including “sufficient progress on reforms and justice” – the polls could be scheduled for the second week of February, several weeks earlier than the previously announced April timeline.
When asked about the tone of the meeting, Tarique Rahman and senior BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury expressed their satisfaction. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, speaking from the party chairperson’s office in Dhaka the following day, described the meeting as a “turning point” eagerly awaited by the nation. He called for a move beyond past disagreements to focus on fulfilling public expectations.
The February election consensus is seen as a crucial step towards breaking the political deadlock that has hindered Bangladesh since the collapse of the previous government.
Observers regard it as the most concrete effort to restore democratic processes since the interim government assumed office.
However, not all reactions were positive.
Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), criticised the London meeting, questioning the legitimacy of deciding national affairs abroad.
“Such decisions should be taken in Dhaka, not in London hotels. Without a clear roadmap for reforms and justice, rushing into elections under the pressure of a single party is unacceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, major opposition groups, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, welcomed the development. Party Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar noted that his party had long supported holding elections in February after key reforms are completed.
“Now that two principal leaders have reached an agreement, we hope democracy will advance,” he told this correspondent.
A twelve-party alliance led by Jatiya Party Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider also described the meeting as a “milestone” that ended months of political uncertainty. In a joint statement, the alliance said: “The consensus has given the people a message of hope by ending uncertainty. We now expect tangible progress in reforms and justice – not merely promises.”
The statement was signed by leaders of allied parties including the LDP, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, Islami Oikya Jote, and the Progressive Nationalist Party (PNP), demonstrating broad support for the move.
As the nation considers the implications of this overseas dialogue, a key question remains: Can the momentum from this meeting lead to an election process that is credible, inclusive, transparent, and free from violence?
For now, at least, the country’s two most influential figures – one leading the interim government and the other heading a major opposition party – have found a tentative shared path forward.
“The real work begins now,” said Amir Khasru. “There will be no shortcuts. Reforms, justice, and consensus will guide our way.”
