The government has assured the BNP that efforts are underway to hold the national parliamentary elections by December this year. Following a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Monday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir shared this update.

He stated, “The government has informed us that they are working towards holding the elections by December. We hope that, in line with public expectations, an election roadmap will be announced soon.” However, later that night, the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam clarified in a press conference that while BNP has demanded elections in December, the government is still considering the matter, and the advisory council will review it before making any decisions.

The meeting took place at the Jamuna State Guest House at 6:00 PM and included the Chief Adviser’s economic, legal, and industrial advisors. BNP’s delegation comprised its Secretary General and senior party leaders. Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam, speaking at an event in Manikganj, reiterated the Election Commission’s preparation for holding elections by December, emphasizing the need for a credible election.

During the meeting, BNP presented a four-page statement outlining its position on the interim government’s six-month tenure and the current state of the country. While BNP has previously accused the government of using electoral reforms as a delay tactic, in this meeting, they expressed a willingness to proceed with both reforms and the election process simultaneously, demanding a swift announcement of the election roadmap.

Regarding reforms, the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary revealed that discussions would begin with political parties from February 15 under the National Consensus Formation Commission, which will review reports from six reform commissions.

After the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul addressed journalists, discussing issues beyond the elections, including deteriorating law and order, rising commodity prices, and concerns over a resurgence of authoritarian elements. He emphasized the need for an elected government to restore democratic rights and constitutional governance, asserting that organizing elections promptly is the primary mandate of the current administration.

At a separate press briefing, Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan stated that a policy decision exists regarding local government elections before the parliamentary elections, but no final decision has been made. In response, Mirza Fakhrul reaffirmed BNP’s position against holding local elections before the national polls, citing past irregularities in local elections under the previous government.

Commenting on the nationwide ‘Operation Devil Hunt,’ Fakhrul urged caution to avoid any repetition of past operations that led to unintended consequences. He also expressed concerns over reports that some members of the interim government were allegedly involved in forming new political parties, warning that such actions could erode public confidence.

Regarding the Awami League, BNP accused the party of attempting to create instability with the support of a neighboring country and called for its prosecution for crimes against humanity. The discussion also covered the rise in mob culture, incidents of vandalism targeting symbols of the previous regime, and the failure of the government to address public grievances over economic and security issues.

BNP further criticized the interim government for failing to take decisive action against individuals linked to the previous administration’s alleged authoritarian rule. They warned that public frustration over inaction might lead to citizens taking matters into their own hands, which could harm the government’s image domestically and internationally.

On judicial concerns, Fakhrul criticized the retention of judges who had allegedly handed down politically motivated sentences against opposition members and stressed the need for reforms to ensure judicial independence. He also accused bureaucrats aligned with the previous regime of continuing to influence state institutions, hindering efforts to stabilize governance.

Concluding his remarks, Fakhrul called on the government to restore law and order, control inflation, announce an election roadmap, and remove remnants of the previous administration from the bureaucracy.