Interim Govt works to hold the Election by Dec in Bangladesh

The Interim Government has assured the BNP of working to hold the national election by December this year, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday.

The assurance came at a meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and a BNP delegation led by Fakhrul at the state guesthouse Jamuna last evening.

Fakhrul said the BNP reiterated the call for holding the election swiftly after implementing minimal reforms based on a consensus.

Yunus and those accompanying him assured the BNP leaders that the election would be held "very soon", Fakhrul said.

"He [Prof Yunus] has also said they were working so that the election could be held by December this year," Fakhrul said, adding that the BNP hopes that the government will soon declare a roadmap for the election as per the people's expectations.

Asked when the roadmap would be announced, Fakhrul said, "Probably, they will say something about it by February 15."

The National Consensus Commission led by Prof Yunus is supposed to start talks with political parties for unanimity on reforms on that day.

The Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed the date at another briefing after the meeting with the BNP leaders.

When the BNP leaders sought early national polls, Prof Yunus said the National Consensus Commission would work on it, according to Shafiqul.

He said the chief adviser reiterated the two possible election timeframes -- within December 2025 or June 2026.

Shafiqul said the BNP leaders expressed their support for the government's reform initiatives and assured Yunus of standing by him.

Responding to a query at the briefing after the meeting with the chief adviser, Fakhrul reiterated that the BNP would never agree to hold local government polls before the national election.

"We're making it clear, as we did in the past: there will be no election before the national polls."

He said they told Yunus that the government cannot avoid responsibility for recent incidents because those occurred in front of law enforcers. The BNP believes these incidents have endangered law and order and given the fascists an opportunity to speak out.

The party also demanded repatriation of laundered money and action against those in the administration who aided fascism and were involved in looting the country's resources.

Additionally, they called for the withdrawal of false cases against political leaders and activists over the last 15-16 years.

Fakhrul said the party expressed concerns over soaring commodity prices. "One of the biggest failures of this government is its inability to control prices. They have told us that they are working on it."

He said the BNP discussed the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt aimed at maintaining law and order. The party emphasised that no innocent individuals should be harassed during the drive.

CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul said Prof Yunus told the BNP delegation that violation of human rights during the operation would not be tolerated in any way.

"We are seriously monitoring it. We do not want any violation of human rights, and it will not happen."

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul accompanied Prof Yunus at the meeting while Fakhrul had BNP Standing Committee members Salahuddin Ahmed and Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed with him.

LETTER TO CA

At the meeting, the BNP delegation handed a letter with suggestions over to Prof Yunus upon the completion of his government's six months in office. The letter says that the Awami League is attempting to destabilise the country through various programmes, and Sheikh Hasina plans to continue these activities from abroad with the support of a "neighbouring country".

"Therefore, it is imperative to make the Awami League face trial as a political party for genocide and crimes against humanity," the letter reads.

The party in the letter expresses deep concern over provocative remarks by Hasina and her allies regarding the July-August uprising. It further said that their remarks ignited public outrage and led to growing demands for the removal of statues, structures, and nameplates associated with the AL across the country.

The letter also criticises the interim government for its failure to bring the fugitive dictator and her accomplices to justice, saying that this inaction has fuelled public unrest and could tarnish the government's image both at home and abroad.

To restore stability and uphold democratic rights, the party urges the interim government to hold early elections and establish a political government that "truly reflects the aspirations of the people".

In the letter, the party also says that the absence of an elected government has stalled economic growth and investment. Global partners are hesitant to engage in development agreements, which has slowed the country's progress, according to the letter.

It emphasises that the interim government must remain fully neutral and ensure that no group gains political advantage through its actions.

It also expresses concerns about growing public suspicion that "some advisers within the interim government are exploiting their positions to form political parties".

"Various signs of using administrative machinery for political purposes are gradually emerging, which is detrimental to the country and its democratic values," the letter reads. "We welcome the emergence of any political party through a proper democratic process, in line with the people's expectations."

EC MAKING PREPARATIONS

At an event in Manikganj yesterday, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said that the Election Commission is making preparations to hold the national polls by December.

While speaking to reporters after a meeting on voter list update, he said the EC had already reviewed the necessary steps for holding a good election and "erasing the shame of the past".

"We will make decisions based on the reform report and work accordingly," he added.