Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday reiterated its demand for a clear roadmap to ensure the national election is held by December this year.
The party stressed this call during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna at 7:30pm.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami echoed the BNP’s stance, underscoring the importance of timely elections and the completion of ongoing reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government.
During discussions with the Chief Adviser, the BNP delegation raised four key concerns: progress on reforms, the judicial process, an election timeline, and the restructuring of the Advisory Council.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “We have urged the interim government to accelerate the reform process and demanded a specific and transparent election roadmap. Additionally, we called for the formation of a non-controversial advisory council.”
The BNP delegation included senior party leaders Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Salahuddin Ahmed, alongside Hossain. The hour-long meeting ended at approximately 8:30pm.
Following the BNP’s engagement, a two-member Jamaat-e-Islami delegation met with Dr Yunus at the same venue. Speaking to the media afterwards, Jamaat Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman stressed the importance of both reforms and elections.
“This government has initiated several significant reforms, which we believe are crucial for rebuilding Bangladesh. However, national elections must also be held promptly after these reforms are completed,” Dr Rahman said. He was accompanied by Jamaat Nayeb-e-Amir Dr Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher.
Later in the evening, the Chief Adviser also held a meeting with representatives of the National Citizen Party (NCP). According to an NCP press release, the delegation was led by Convenor Nahid Islam, and included Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah, Senior Joint Convenor Ariful Islam Adib, and Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Zarah.
The meetings form part of a broader series of consultations by the interim government aimed at easing the country’s growing political tensions and building consensus on the path to national elections.
