A group of political leaders, emerging from a meeting with chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday, said that the interim government chief assured them that a specific date and timeline for the next national election would be announced within the next four or five days.
As part of the ongoing discussion with the political parties, the chief adviser on Saturday held the meeting with the leaders of 14 political parties at the state guest house, Jamuna, in the capital.
鈥楾he chief adviser has categorically said that within the next four or five days, he will announce a clear timeframe and date for the election. There could be no news more joyous than this,鈥� Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider told reporters after the meeting.
He expressed his belief that the most fruitful subject of the meeting was the chief adviser鈥檚 statement that the solution to the crisis, chaos and instability prevailing across the country would come through elections.
The chief adviser鈥檚 press wing in a statement said that Professor Yunus warned that the defeated forces were trying to disrupt the upcoming election and urged all anti-fascist groups to stay united against these efforts.
鈥業f all the forces behind the uprising fail to come together to hold a proper election, we will miss this great opportunity,鈥� the statement quoted the chief adviser as saying in the meeting.
Following the meeting, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam secretary general Manjurul Islam Afanandi told reporters that he, on behalf of his party, had criticised the interim government鈥檚 decision to host a UN Human Rights Commission office in Bangladesh without any political consultation.
Manjurul, however, said that they supported the government鈥檚 move towards elections but voiced concerns about discrimination in the chief adviser鈥檚 dealings with political parties.
Bangladesh Labour Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said that the chief adviser indicated that a roadmap and a specific date of election would be announced within two to three days.
He said that they strongly protested the decision to set up a UN human rights office in Bangladesh.
Bhasani Janashakti Party chairman Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu said that the chief adviser mentioned that a definite election date would be announced within two or three days.
Rafiqul urged the authorities to make an immediate move to announce the election date, saying that an immediate announcement of the date would help resolve half the problems at once.
National People鈥檚 Party chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad said that they urged the government to announce the election date without any delay, arguing that this would help ease law and order concerns.
He also called for the removal of pro-Awami League officials from key state institutions to ensure a fair election.
Jatiya Gana Front coordinator Tipu Biswas described the meeting with the chief adviser as productive and said that the fallen autocrats must never be allowed to return.
Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) chief coordinator Masud Rana said that they criticised the continuation of policies associated with the previous regime.
He expressed concern over continued governance following the Awami League鈥檚 model, saying that they were witnessing divisive initiatives, with ports being leased to foreign entities and secret deals being made.
According to a statement from the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing, Professor Yunus said during the meeting that the defeated forces were creating disorder whenever they got the chance, severely disrupting the country鈥檚 normal progress.
鈥榃henever we move forward with election preparations, new conspiracies emerge. But the reality is that no conspiracy can hinder the march of democracy, because the unity among all democratic forces against fascism is clear,鈥� the statement quoted the chief adviser as saying.
The political leaders who attended the meeting assured the chief adviser of their full cooperation, the statement added.