At the request of the Election Commission, the BNP has postponed its chairman Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to the northern region. The party has alleged that certain groups are deliberately working to undermine and derail the upcoming national parliamentary election.

The announcement was made by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday night after an emergency meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee at the BNP office in Gulshan, Dhaka. He said Tarique Rahman was scheduled to tour several northern districts starting on January 11.

According to Mirza Fakhrul, the visit was planned to include paying respects at the graves of national leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Abu Sayeed—who was killed during the 2024 student-public uprising—and other martyrs, as well as attending to certain family responsibilities. However, following a request from the Election Commission, the party decided to suspend the tour.

Speaking about the current political climate and the forthcoming election, Mirza Fakhrul said that various efforts are being made to cast doubt on and disrupt the national election scheduled for February. He alleged that a section is actively conspiring to create obstacles to the electoral process.

The BNP secretary general further claimed that political violence is being carried out systematically to destabilize the election environment. He alleged that Osman Hadi, also known as Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi, was shot dead, and that leaders of different political parties—particularly BNP figures—have been targeted in similar attacks. He also referred to the recent killing of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Musabbir, also known as Azizur Rahman.

Expressing strong condemnation and anger over these incidents, Mirza Fakhrul demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible. He warned that continued violence would make it impossible to maintain a free, fair, and peaceful election atmosphere in the country.

He added that the BNP has repeatedly urged both the government and the Election Commission to take visible and effective steps to improve law and order, prevent political violence, and ensure swift justice for those involved in such crimes.

Party sources said the emergency Standing Committee meeting also reviewed the overall political situation, the upcoming election, party programs, and organizational preparedness. BNP leaders believe that increasing violence and instability ahead of the election would harm the democratic process and would not serve the country’s interests.