BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has cautioned that without a fair national election, the interim government’s initiatives will ultimately prove meaningless.

He made the remarks on Thursday while addressing a roundtable discussion titled “Expectations and Challenges of Fair Elections,” hosted by the Citizen Coalition at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka’s Topkhana Road.

Salahuddin underscored that a transparent electoral process is essential for any genuine political advancement. “The key challenge before us is ensuring that the February election is conducted in a free, fair, and impartial manner,” he said. “The Election Commission may appear to be following its roadmap, but procedures alone are insufficient. The outcome must genuinely reflect fairness.”

He argued that while Bangladesh has stepped away from what he described as authoritarian governance, the country still lacks a unified national vision for transitioning to true democracy through indigenous means.

“There is still an opportunity,” he added. “Through dialogue and mutual understanding, a consensus can be achieved — but time is running short.”

Highlighting the importance of constitutional legitimacy, Salahuddin warned that amendments can only be made by a duly elected parliament. “Any attempt to alter the constitution outside a representative legislature risks legal disputes and undermines the foundations of governance,” he noted.

He acknowledged the difficulty of ongoing discussions, given that more than a hundred reform proposals are under review, and full agreement among all political forces is unlikely. Yet, he insisted that the spirit of democracy lies in compromise. “We must put aside narrow partisan agendas and work together for the greater good of the nation. That is the real strength — and the true beauty — of democracy.”