Khaleda to BNP: Avoid Clash, Opt for Dialogue on Election

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has instructed her party’s senior leaders not to engage in direct confrontation with the caretaker government or its chief adviser, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, regarding the upcoming national election. Instead, she advised considering all possible outcomes and prioritizing dialogue over conflict.

The directive came during an Eid-ul-Azha gathering on Saturday night (June 7) at her Gulshan residence, Firoza, where members of the BNP’s standing committee met her to exchange Eid greetings. Two senior leaders present at the meeting later confirmed the details.

This development follows the caretaker government's chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus's national address on Friday (June 6), where he announced that the next general election will be held in the first half of April next year. This contradicted BNP and other opposition parties’ demand for an election by December this year.

Later that night, BNP held an emergency standing committee meeting to discuss its response. While there were mixed reactions from the committee members, BNP ultimately rejected the April timeline and reiterated its demand for a December election.

During the Eid gathering on Saturday, senior BNP leaders including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamir Uddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and Prof. Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain were present.

According to sources, Khaleda Zia expressed doubt about the feasibility of holding elections in April due to weather, Ramadan, and other challenges. However, she strongly advised against entering into a confrontational stance with the interim government.

“There is no benefit in engaging in direct conflict with the government,” Khaleda Zia reportedly said. “Dialogue is the only way forward. We must also consider the scenario if Dr. Yunus is no longer in charge. Discussions should focus on how to pragmatically progress toward an acceptable election roadmap.”

Following her instructions, BNP convened another standing committee meeting on Monday (June 9), where her suggestions were thoroughly discussed. Party leaders reportedly agreed to take a more conciliatory approach and pursue dialogue as the primary path to resolving the election impasse—an indication that BNP may be softening its previously rigid demand for a December election.