The Chief Advisor’s recent suggestion that the national elections might take place either at the start of 2025 or be delayed until 2026 has caused a split within the BNP, with party leaders offering mixed reactions.
While some BNP leaders see the Chief Advisor’s comments as a positive step towards resolving the political uncertainty, others are not so optimistic. They have raised concerns, calling it an “incomplete promise without a clear roadmap,” according to a report by UNB.
BNP members believe that holding the election quickly would help resolve the ongoing political crisis, but they also think a delayed election could be a strategy by the government to extend its time in power.
One BNP leader remarked, “After months of uncertainty, it`s good to hear about elections again—whether they come soon or are delayed. However, without a clear roadmap, we are left guessing about the government’s true intentions.”
This has sparked both hope and skepticism within the party.
BNP leaders are now weighing the challenge of preparing for either an early election or a longer wait, which could shift the dynamics at the grassroots level.
BNP leaders stated that they hope to complete necessary election reforms within the next four to five months and aim for an election by late August next year, giving the current government time to finish its term.
They also believe the Chief Advisor’s comment that the election could be held in early 2026 might be part of a negotiation strategy with political parties regarding the government’s remaining time in power.
Some BNP leaders think that through dialogue with other political parties, the government could agree to hold the election by December of next year.
They also noted that if other parties are willing to accept this timeline, they might support allowing the current government to stay in power until December.
Earlier, on Monday, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus hinted that the 13th national election might take place at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.
In a televised address to the nation, he said, “To be precise, the election could take place between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026.”
Dr. Yunus also stressed the need for completing all reforms before the election.
A senior BNP member, speaking anonymously, said, “We are not fully satisfied with what the Chief Advisor said in his address about the upcoming election. He didn’t provide a specific timeline or a clear roadmap. But we feel a bit relieved, and we hope the government is at least considering the election.”
He further added that BNP’s top decision-makers believe the government could hold elections by mid-next year if they are serious. "We also think one year is enough time for the government to carry out the necessary reforms and hold the election. However, some within the government may want to use the reform process to delay the election and stay in power longer."
The BNP leader also mentioned that various reform commissions set up by the government might present their proposals by the end of this month.
“The government could then discuss these proposals with political parties and come up with a reform plan everyone agrees on. Once a new government is elected, they can implement these reforms in Parliament. That’s how it should be, but the government is making it more complicated to stay in power,” he added.
The BNP leader also said they will now talk to political parties that have joined their movement against the government of Sheikh Hasina. “We all will call for elections by the middle of next year. At the most, we might have to wait until December next year. We believe the government will eventually agree to hold elections by the end of next year,” he stated.
He further mentioned that BNP’s Standing Committee would discuss this matter seriously at their next meeting and plan their next steps accordingly.
When contacted, BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that if the current interim government and Election Commission are sincere, it’s possible to hold a free and fair election before December next year.
“The government should arrange the election as soon as possible because the country needs an elected government to move forward and resolve the existing issues,” Mosharraf said.
He added, “Once an election timeline is announced, people will focus on the election. They won’t tolerate conspiracies if they know an election is coming. The interim government must realize that an early election would benefit both them and the people.”
Another BNP Standing Committee member, Amir Khasru Mahmud, said that following the Chief Advisor’s announcement, they will closely monitor the government’s actions.
“It shouldn’t take long to arrange an election. If the government is sincere, they can organize elections quickly, reflecting the people’s wishes,” he remarked.
Khasru also said the government might propose a reform framework, but the elected government should be the one to implement these reforms through Parliament, keeping the democratic process intact.
BNP Standing Committee member Salah Uddin Ahmed pointed out that the Chief Advisor’s address only gave a rough idea of the election timeline, “without providing a clear roadmap.”
He said that the Chief Advisor did not explain how much time is needed for specific reforms. “We hope he will provide a detailed roadmap, outlining clear deadlines for both the reforms and the election,” Ahmed concluded.
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