BNP and several other political parties call for elections to be held by 2025

Distrust is deepening between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), other political parties, and the interim government over the election roadmap.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus recently suggested a tentative timeline for the elections, but political parties expressed dissatisfaction, emphasizing that they were not consulted on the matter.

The BNP and its allies claim that the lack of a clear election timeline and regular communication from the government has created a growing rift. They also allege that the interim government has not maintained consistent, formal, or informal dialogues with political parties. Although the chief adviser has held three meetings with the parties to discuss prevailing issues, tensions persist.

The BNP, its allies, and Jamaat-e-Islami have demanded a clear roadmap for necessary reforms and elections. On December 16, marking four months of the interim government, Dr. Yunus, in a national address, hinted at a possible election schedule, stating, “Broadly speaking, the election date can be set between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026.” His press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, later clarified that elections would be held by June 30, 2026.

However, BNP leaders argue that such a prolonged timeline is unwarranted and are pressing for earlier elections. Jamaat-e-Islami, initially supportive of granting the government time for reforms, has now aligned with the BNP in demanding elections within 2025.

While political parties welcomed the tentative timeline as a positive step, they criticized the delay and lack of clarity. They have called for immediate dialogue and a consensus-based roadmap.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told, “We have supported the government from the outset and attended three meetings with the chief adviser. We requested regular communication and discussions with political parties, but that did not happen. A timeline was announced without consultation, which has widened the gap.”

This gap is further fueled by suspicions that the government may be deliberately delaying elections to create space for new political parties. The BNP and other parties are skeptical of the motives behind the emergence of a new party, reportedly formed by former student leaders of the uprising.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Biplabi Workers Party and a leader of Ganatantra Manch, noted that speculation is rife about whether elements of the government are supporting new party formations and intentionally postponing elections. He emphasized that these issues have eroded trust in the government and called for open communication to bridge the divide.