CA announces polls: BNP demands clarity, Jamaat willing to wait

BNP leaders have welcomed Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus's announcement of a tentative timeline for national elections but emphasized the need for a detailed and actionable roadmap. While acknowledging the announcement as progress, they stressed that general ideas cannot replace a well-structured plan to ensure credible and inclusive polls.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told The Daily Star, “The chief adviser has only shared a possible timeframe for the elections, not a concrete roadmap.” Echoing similar concerns, Salahuddin Ahmed urged the interim government to disclose a specific roadmap, including an exact date. Another Standing Committee Member, Khandaker Mosharraf, noted that holding elections sooner would benefit both the interim government and the nation.

Other BNP leaders voiced concerns about potential delays. Mirza Abbas warned, “The worsening economic crisis and soaring prices cannot be resolved without an elected government.” Syed Emran Saleh Prince, BNP Joint Secretary General, cautioned that prolonged delays under the guise of reforms might lead to conspiracies.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s reaction was cautiously supportive. Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar stated, “We will remain patient as long as the chief adviser honours his commitment to hold elections. In that case, we are ready to cooperate.”

Leaders of other political parties also reacted. Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan criticized the announcement as lacking clarity, calling it "a verbal reassurance rather than a formal roadmap." Ruhin Hossain Prince of the Communist Party of Bangladesh described the speech as a positive step but lamented its vagueness, suggesting that a more specific timeline, even a month, would have met public expectations. Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolon, emphasized the importance of dialogue with stakeholders to finalize election dates, reforms, and a detailed plan.

Overall, while the announcement signaled progress, political leaders across the spectrum stressed the urgency of clear, actionable steps to ensure timely and credible elections.