The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with political alliances Jukta Front and Jatiya Oikya Prokriya have drafted an outline accommodating the common goals and demands ahead of the 11th parliamentary election.
The draft will be finalized at a meeting on Saturday and a next course of action will be determined to “force the government to hold a fair and neutral election.”
“We have almost finalized an outline to take the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya forward. It has been drafted based on the common demands and goals of the parties. It will be finalized after a meeting tomorrow,” Jukto Front Member Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna told reporters on Friday night after a meeting.
The meeting was held among the leaders of the parties at the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rob’s residence in Dhaka’s Uttara.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Moudud Ahmed, JSD President ASM Abdur Rob and Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna were present at the meeting.
Gono Forum Executive President Subrata Chowdhury, General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury were also present, among many others.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed new names for the united platform- Jatiya Oikya Jote, Jatiya Oikya Dhara, Jatiya Oikya Front and Jatiya Oikya Mancha- however the name is likely to be finalized at Jatiya Oikya Front, said a leader who attended the meeting.
The meeting also discussed a draft plan of seven demands and eleven common goals, said sources.
The draft of seven demands includes formation of a non-partisan government through discussion with all political parties, after the resignation of the incumbent government and dissolution of the parliament to hold a fair election; release of political prisoners, including Khaleda Zia, and withdrawal of false cases filed against opposition activists.
The draft demands also include Election Commission reform with qualified personnel, no use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next election, withdrawal of false cases filed against students and journalists, and deployment of army personnel with magistracy powers ten days before the next general election.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the formation of the national unity is almost at the final stage.
“We will present it before the nation very soon,” he said.
Sources present at the meeting said the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya and BNP senior leaders are likely to hold a meeting at Dr Kamal Hossain’s residence today in the afternoon to finalize the framework for unity.
On October 7, the leaders of BNP, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya and Jukto Front held a meeting at BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain’s house and reached a consensus to wage a united movement for forcing the government to hold a credible election.
Over the last month, BNP, and the newly-formed coalition comprised of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya and Jukta Front have been voicing similar demands concerning the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Jatiya Oikya Prokriya was initiated by AQM Badruddoza-led Jukta Front and Dr Kamal Hossain’s Gono Forum on September 15. Later on September 22, BNP extended its support to the platform at a rally.
Since then, leaders from three political platforms held several meetings to finalize next course of action.
With this, almost all the parties who oppose the Awami League-led government will have joined a single platform.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
