The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has once again asserted its demand for an immediate announcement of a clear electoral road map to ensure that Jatiya Sangsad elections are held by December this year while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has pressed for reforms and elections within the government announced deadline.
The calls came during a meeting with chief adviser Professor Mohammad Yunus at his official residence, Jamuna, in the capital on Saturday night.
Professor Yunus held separate meetings with the BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party.
Following the meeting with the BNP, its standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told reporters that three key issues were discussed 鈥� the trial of Awami League leaders and individuals aligned with the former autocratic regime accused of committing crimes, electoral reforms, and the upcoming national elections.
鈥榃e have submitted a formal written statement to the chief adviser, demanding the immediate completion of election-related reforms and the announcement of a clear road map to hold the national parliamentary elections by December,鈥� said Mosharraf.
To ensure free, fair, and neutral elections, and to uphold the impartiality of the government, the BNP has called for the reconstitution of the advisory council after removing the controversial advisers, Mosharraf said.
Addressing recent discussions regarding the possible resignation of the chief adviser, he clarified, 鈥榃e, from the BNP, have stated clearly that the party has never demanded the resignation of the chief adviser. On the contrary, we have been fully cooperating with this government since day one.鈥�
He said that the three issues 鈥� reform, justice, and elections 鈥攅ach should be treated separately.
Mosharraf said that that reform was an ongoing process that should move forward through national consensus, adding that the BNP hoped to continue implementing such reforms if it returned to power in the future.
A four-member BNP delegation, led by Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, entered the chief adviser鈥檚 official residence at around 7:00pm, with the meeting concluding at approximately 9:00pm.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that their party had clearly stated its position on reforms while the government side agreed that reforms should be pursued based on consensus and could be implemented quickly.
He said that there was a consensus on allowing the judiciary to independently handle the judicial processes, including bringing individuals under legal scrutiny.
鈥楾herefore, it is possible to hold elections even before December 鈥� this was discussed in the meeting,鈥� Khasru said.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that they demanded the removal of the national security adviser and two student advisers, citing their roles as detrimental to the neutrality of the interim government.
Another BNP standing committee member, Abdul Moyeen Khan, said that once the government formally announced an election road map, stability would be restored in the country.
Jamaat ameer Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that the ongoing crisis could be solved by announcing two road maps: one for elections and the other for reforms.聽
NCP convener Nahid Islam said that their position remained same for the announcement of聽 July Declaration in 30 days as promised and a comprehensive road map encompassing the trial of the July Uprising killings, reforms, and local body elections before the national polls.
Chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam said all the three parties requested the chief adviser not to quit citing the ground that people of the country had confidence in Professor Yunus.
He said that the chief adviser assured them that the election would be held between December this year and June 2026.
The press secretary said that Jamaat had endorsed the government plan for elections while the BNP pressed for the elections by December in their respective meetings.
He said that the NCP on the other hand underlined the need for creating a level playing field for a free and fair election by recasting the Election Commission.
Earlier, on the day, the chief adviser held an unscheduled meeting of the council of advisers at the Planning Commission.
After the meeting, planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters on Saturday that chief adviser Professor Yunus had not resigned and would continue in his role, along with the other advisers, to carry out the interim government鈥檚 responsibilities.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the chief of army staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, expressed concern over the country鈥檚 political situation during an 鈥極fficers鈥� Address鈥� at the Dhaka Cantonment, where he stated that general elections should be held in December this year.
He also reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the government鈥檚 plan to establish a humanitarian channel to Myanmar鈥檚 Arakan State, as requested by the United Nations.
A day after the Army chief鈥檚 remarks, chief adviser Professor Yunus on Thursday indicated that he would not continue in his role if the current political situation remained unchanged.
Following an hour-long cabinet meeting in the morning, Professor Yunus spent over three hours in discussion with his cabinet colleagues at his office, where he reportedly expressed deep frustration and stated that he had decided to step down.
Following the chief adviser鈥檚 indication to resign on Thursday, law adviser Asif Nazrul 鈥� currently abroad 鈥� was informed by cabinet colleagues and subsequently briefed BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Singapore.
Later that evening, the National Citizen Party confirmed that NCP convener Nahid Islam met with the chief adviser, who reiterated his intention to resign amid the ongoing political crisis.
