Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will announce the date of the next parliamentary election within four or five days, said Mustafa Jamal Haider, chairman of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar faction), after a meeting of 14 political parties and alliances with the chief adviser on Saturday afternoon.
He said the chief adviser categorically stated that he would announce the election date within the next four to five days. “This was the most fruitful part of the discussion,” he said. “The government has understood that elections are the only way to resolve the anarchy in the country.”
The Jatiya Party leader added: “There can be no greater message of joy than this (announcement of the election date). Elections will bring an end to the anarchy. Many problems will be solved through elections.”
After the meeting, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran told reporters that he informed the chief adviser the government had “failed miserably” in maintaining law and order. “The main problem in the country is the deterioration of law and order,” he said. “What other operation will restore the situation?”
Aminul Haque Tipu Biswas of the Jatiya Gano Front said the chief adviser had promised during the meeting to hold elections by next February.
NPP Chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad said they had urged the chief adviser to immediately announce the election date. “If there is an elected government, terrorism will be reduced in the country,” he said.
“We now expect the election date to be announced. The entire country has been asked to prepare for the polls,” said Bangladesh Jatiya Dal (BJD) Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda.
Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam said, “The chief adviser essentially briefed us on the current crisis. He said we should remain as united as we were before August 5, when all of us stood together. The defeated forces must not be allowed to rise again.”
Earlier, on Wednesday, the chief adviser held a meeting with leaders of 13 political parties and alliances at the State Guest House Jamuna to discuss the current situation in the country. The previous night, he had met with leaders of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Islamic Movement.
Chief adviser calls for unity
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus warned that corrupt forces are trying to sabotage the election process by creating chaos. He called on all anti-fascist forces to remain united to resist these attempts.
“If all the forces of the uprising do not come together to hold a fair election, we will lose this great opportunity,” said the chief adviser during the exchange of views with top political leaders at the State Guest House Jamuna.
He said the defeated forces are creating various forms of chaos whenever they get the chance, seriously disrupting the country’s natural progress.
“Whenever we make progress in preparing for the elections, conspiracies begin to surface. But the truth is, no conspiracy can derail democratic progress, because the unity of all democratic forces against fascism is clear,” he said.
The chief adviser expressed hope that all political parties would cooperate in organizing fair elections. The political leaders present assured him of their full support.
The meeting began around 5pm. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder confirmed the information.
At the start of the meeting, a minute of silence and prayers were observed in memory of those who died in the plane crash at Milestone School and College.
Among those present were Aminul Haque Tipu Biswas (Jatiya Gano Front); Mostafa Jamal Haider (12-Party Alliance); Maulana Abdul Majed Athari (Nizam-e-Islam Party); Maulana Yusuf Ashraf (Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis); Fariduzzaman Farhad (Chairman, NPP); Syed Ehsanul Huda (Chairman, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal - BJD); Dr Mushtaq Hossain (Bangladesh JaSaD); Bobby Hajjaj (Nationalist Democratic Movement); Shamim Haider (Secretary General, Zaker Party); Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Razi (Secretary General, Islami Oikya Jote); Rafiqul Islam Bablu (Chairman, Bhasani Janashakti Party); Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran (Chairman, Bangladesh Labour Party); Masud Rana (Coordinator, BSP-Marxist); and Manjurul Islam Afendi (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam).
