BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, during his meeting with the party’s acting chairman, agreed to hold the next national election in mid-February next.
Speaking to reporters in Dhaka, Mirza Fakhrul made the remarks in his immediate reaction following the high-profile meeting held in London between Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
“Everybody was expecting that this meeting could be a turning point. We express our gratitude to Allah that this meeting has truly turned into a turning point,” he said.
Fakhrul said Tarique proposed bringing the election date forward from April, as earlier announced by the chief adviser, since that time is not favourable for voting.
“The entire nation noticed with immense joy that the chief adviser agreed to it, and they (govt) fixed the election timeframe in the middle of February,” said Fakhrul.
He thanked Prof Yunus, saying that using his prudence he invited Tarique to the meeting and thus ended the political stalemate for taking the nation forward with new hopes.
Fakhrul said a joint statement was issued after the meeting, clearly stating that the talks between the two leaders were held in a cordial atmosphere.
The BNP leader said the election issue was the prime one among other matters discussed at the meeting.
He said it is now necessary to move forward towards a fair election in mid-February by forgetting past misunderstandings and further consolidating the national unity.
Fakhrul said he spoke to Tarique Rahman soon after the meeting with Prof Yunus ended, and the BNP acting chairman expressed his gratitude and respect for those who carried out the struggle over the last 15 years, shed blood, and those who made sacrifices during the July-August mass uprising.
He said Tarique also paid homage to all martyrs and prayed for the salvation of their departed souls.
Besides, Fakhrul said the BNP acting chairman expressed gratitude to the country’s people for continuing their struggle for democracy and thanked them.
Praising Tarique Rahman’s leadership, he added: “Once again, Tarique Rahman has proven that among all the political leaders in Bangladesh today, he undoubtedly possesses the qualities of a true statesman.”
Highlighting the significance of the meeting, Fakhrul further said: “There was a cloud of uncertainty all around. Many speculations were going on. Today, these two leaders have shown that when the nation needs it, the people of Bangladesh can unite, and true leaders can step forward to provide leadership.”
Emphasizing the necessity of democracy for rebuilding the country, the BNP secretary general remarked: “Democracy is not a one-day event; it’s a continuous process of practice and cultivation. To rebuild the nation, we must establish national unity—and for that, democracy is essential.”
Earlier, a joint statement from the chief adviser and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman was issued following their meeting in London.
It said the meeting between Tarique and Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus was held in a very cordial atmosphere.
The statement said Tarique Rahman proposed to the chief adviser that the national election be held before Ramadan next year.
The statement said: “Party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia also believes that holding the election during that time would be appropriate.”
“The chief adviser said he has already announced that the election will be held in early April next year. If all preparations are completed, it may even be possible to hold the election in the week before the start of Ramadan in 2026,” the joint statement read.
“But, in that case, sufficient progress would need to be made by then regarding reforms and the trial,” it added.
It said Tarique welcomed the chief adviser’s position and thanked him on behalf of the party. “The chief adviser also thanked Mr Tarique Rahman for the fruitful discussion.”
The high-stake meeting between Professor Yunus and Tarique ended after nearly two hours of discussion on various crucial issues ahead of the general election.
The meeting began at the Dorchester Hotel in London at 2pm Bangladesh time on Friday and continued until 3:30pm (BST), said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
The meeting was scheduled to end at 4pm but concluded half an hour earlier than planned.
