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The interest expressed by chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at an advisory council meeting on Thursday to resign under existing political circumstances drew mixed reactions from political parties.

While most political parties agreed that his resignation was unlikely to end the ongoing crisis, they saw the solution in organising talks with political parties to bridge the gap created between the interim government and political parties.

They also agreed to the demand that the government should ensure trial of the perpetrators of the July massacre and declare an election road map based on consensus with political parties after minimum reforms.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Friday told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that they expected the government to announce a road map to hold the Jatiya Sangsad elections in December this year to win people’s trust.

‘The interim government would have to switch to the caretaker government mode by reducing the size of the council of advisers excluding controversial advisers,’ he added.

Another BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told the media on Friday that the BNP did not want Yunus to resign, but if he did so, the nation would choose a new alternative.

 He further said that Dr Yunus’s resignation would not create a vacuum.

‘An election road map is the only solution to the current crisis,’ Salahuddin asserted.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Abdul Halim told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on the day that the government should discuss the current situation of the country with the political parties to overcome it.

Sarwar Tushar, joint convener of the National Citizen Party, said that political parties must rise above partisan interests and prioritise national interest where unity among the political parties are essential to overcome the current crisis,.

He stated that there had been attempts to undermine the legitimate authority of the chief adviser in the past few days and such efforts must end.

Tusher also alleged that a certain group was conspiring to overthrow the current legitimate government and establish another regime similar to that of 1/11 government.

Noting that the country’s current situation was not good, Jatiya Party secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu said that the government should sit in a dialogue with all political parties to overcome the crisis and hold a fair election with the participation of all political parties.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim in a statement on the day said that everyone must rise above divisions and act responsibly and cautiously for the sake of reform and elections in the spirit of the July uprising.

He said that the people of the country after the uprising ‘had given you (chief adviser) the responsibility of running the state with unprecedented unwavering support’.

He further said, ‘Your responsibility is towards the blood of the martyrs and the pain of the injured. You must carry out the important responsibility of effecting reform to make their blood and sacrifice of life meaningful.’

He also urged the chief adviser to ignore the pressure, non-cooperation, and obstruction from any party or individual.

‘Carry out the responsibility given to you by the 18 crore people with commitment and the countrymen were, are, and will be by your side,’ he added, pointing to the chief adviser.

Bangladesh Communist Party president Shah Alam said that the interim government should hold a free, fair election immediately for an elected government to overcome the ongoing crisis.

‘The government is worried over the corridor and port issues, which are not their job. The interim government should hold elections after completing minimum reforms and thus hand over the responsibilities to a regular government,’ he said.

Shah Alam further said that the nation would remember him (chief adviser) if he could ensure a credible election but if he failed to do it the whole nation would face a disaster.

Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque said that the resignation of the chief adviser was not a solution at the moment.

‘The government should step away from the controversies it is now facing and those advisers who have become the subject of major controversies and whose acts are putting the government’s neutrality into question should be relieved from the advisory council,’ he commented.

He categorically stated that certain key issues the interim government is pursuing — such as the issues of corridors and ports — fell outside its jurisdiction, adding that the government should not take such initiatives.

He observed that justice, reforms, and (efforts for) elections must be made visible, adding that reforms should be completed, and within the next month, a national charter should be signed, followed by the announcement of a road map in line with the demands the political parties made.

Saiful further said, ‘We have full support for the government, but it is not unconditional. The interim government should have discussions with political parties and thus reduce the gap between itself and the political parties.’

Bazlur Rashid Firoz, general secretary of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal said that the crisis had arisen because the government failed to take political parties in confidence and due to a decline in the understanding between the government and those parties. ‘There should have been regular communication between the government and the political parties,’ he observed.

He said, ’The government has disregarded its key stakeholders — the political parties and another major stakeholder, the armed forces — which has led to the current situation.’

Firoz said, ‘Despite the absence of a Security Council, Khaliur Rahman was appointed as the national security adviser without any consultation. He is talking about providing ports and corridors, which is a kind of betraying the people.’

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD president and freedom fighter ASM Abdur Rab suggested the immediate formulation of the national charter and holding elections based on it is the urgent responsibility of the interim government at this moment to overcome the ongoing crisis.

He also said it had become an imperative to swiftly formulate the national charter aimed at reforms, based on the aspirations of the July uprising, for the creation of an inclusive, unified, and people-based republic.

Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that there was no alternative to immediately announcing a road map for trial, reform and elections to pave the way for a democratic transition as soon as possible after overcoming the current uncertainties, and there was no alternative to political consensus on this matter.

AB party chair Mojibur Rahman Manju said that the news circulating about the chief adviser expressing interest in resignation has caused deep concern among the people of the country. ‘So far, we have not received any clear statement from the government on this matter,’ he added.

‘We believe that various mistakes, misjudgments, and uncomfortable behaviors by all sides have contributed to the present crisis. The resignation of the chief adviser is no solution; rather it will lead to grave uncertainties,’ he observed

Bangladesh Gono Odhikar Porishod Nurul Haque Nur said that ‘We believe that a crisis has emerged, and in this situation, the chief adviser can sit with the political parties. He can discuss the issues he is facing and determine the next course of action accordingly.’