The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called for a clear roadmap to hold the upcoming general election by December 2025, expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of reform discussions within the National Consensus Commission.
The demand came during the second phase of the commission’s political dialogue, held yesterday in the presence of Chief Adviser to the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The meeting, which began around 5:00 PM and concluded at 6:45 PM at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium, brought together more than 30 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens` Party.
The Chief Adviser presided over the session, and later, his press wing provided details of the discussions to the media.
Speaking on behalf of the BNP, Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed led a three-member delegation and strongly emphasized the urgency of holding elections within this year.
“There is no valid reason to delay the election beyond December,” he said, asserting that the political environment was becoming increasingly unstable due to domestic and international pressures.
Referring to the BNP`s 31-point reform proposal, Ahmed noted that while many of the commission`s recommendations align with BNP’s ideas, the BNP had reservations about the summarized version of the commission`s reform document.
He remarked that the abridged version created “confusion” and did not accurately reflect areas of consensus.
“Our party has already provided written feedback, but much of the context was lost in how it was compiled,” he stated, adding that, “We are not here to praise or criticize but to participate in meaningful dialogue.”
Salahuddin Ahmed also criticized the Chief Adviser’s earlier claim that only one political party demanded a December election. “That statement hurt us,” he said, explaining that several like-minded parties have voiced similar demands for timely elections.
He further warned that both internal and external actors might exploit delays to fuel instability.
Ahmed called for the Chief Adviser and his advisory council to maintain impartiality, urging them to treat feedback from political parties as a tool to strengthen their position rather than as complaints.
“Please, considering everything, give us a clear roadmap for elections by December. And if there is any valid reason to delay it, present it transparently to the nation,” he concluded.
The meeting marks a critical juncture in Bangladesh`s ongoing political reform efforts, as the interim government navigates pressures to ensure credible, inclusive, and timely elections.
