BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has voiced strong reservations about holding the next national election in April 2026, as proposed by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
He argued that the month of April is not suitable for a nationwide vote due to adverse weather, academic exams, and the proximity to the holy month of Ramadan.
Speaking to reporters on Eid-ul-Azha morning after paying tribute at the grave of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Fakhrul stated, “April is typically marked by intense heat, storms, and rain. It also comes right after Ramadan and during public examinations. We don’t believe this time was chosen with proper consideration.”
The Chief Advisor had announced in a national address on Friday that the general election would be held in the first half of April 2026.
Reacting to this, BNP renewed its demand for an election to be held within December of this year, saying the proposed delay fails to meet public expectations.
Fakhrul criticized the election timeline, saying, “The timing announced is not appropriate for Bangladesh. Election campaigning during Ramadan will be difficult. Our Standing Committee reviewed the matter last night and concluded that holding elections in December is both possible and best for the country.”
He reiterated that the people’s demand—reflected in BNP’s own position—was for elections to be held before the end of 2025, and that the announcement failed to address that expectation.
Fakhrul also extended Eid greetings to the nation on behalf of the party, Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. He invoked a line from Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poem Korbanir Eid, saying, “Today is not about sacrifice alone; it is a pursuit of truth and an awakening of strength.”
He concluded by emphasizing the values of sacrifice, compassion, and building a more noble world—lessons he said Eid-ul-Azha truly teaches.
