Although there is no specific roadmap yet for the upcoming general election, the BNP is hoping for a free, fair and impartial election in 2025 under the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus.
The party says that for the past 15 years, the people of Bangladesh have been deprived of their right to vote, with senior leaders emphasizing that one of their primary goals is to restore voting rights and establish democracy in the country.
In recent months, the BNP has repeatedly called on the government to organize the election post-haste while maintaining the transparency and impartiality of the country’s democratic institutions.
The BNP’s political goals and expectations for the new year are centred on the election. It says it is crucial to organize a fair election in 2025 after making the Election Commission and the administration, along with all electoral processes, independent and impartial.
Notably, in his Victory Day speech on December 16, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus said the election date could be somewhere between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026.
Explaining his statement, his press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, said the election could be held by June 30, 2026.
At a recent press conference, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir criticized Yunus’s statement, calling it vague. “Dr Muhammad Yunus talked about elections in late 2025 or the first half of 2026, which is unclear; he did not specify a time. Meanwhile, his press secretary later mentioned that elections would be held by June 2026, which contradicts the earlier statement.”
BNP leaders believe that holding the election would not require too much time – after the implementation of some key reforms in areas such as the Election Commission, elections can be held within six months.
However, the BNP wants to give the government the entire year to organize the election. If it is not held during this time, BNP leaders have warned of a possible movement.
At a BNP rally in Thakurgaon, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told party members and supporters: “Do you truly want change, or do you want to go back to the Awami League’s boat? If you want change, just like you did on August 5, you must once again unite and take to the streets. You must demand your right to vote, your right to food and your right to justice.”
No immediate direct action
For the last 15 years, the BNP, along with like-minded parties, has been advocating the establishment of democracy, free and fair elections and voting rights. As the nation inches towards the 13th general election, the BNP has been conducting a joint movement with at least 50 registered and unregistered political parties.
It recently held meetings with 29 political parties. According to the decisions made during these meetings, no direct action against the interim government will be taken now.
However, large-scale rallies may be organized at the district and upazila levels to create an electoral atmosphere. The parties believe if such a national environment for elections is created, it would put pressure on the government.
The parties involved in the meetings all want the election to be held swiftly. They have also agreed to cooperate with the interim government to ensure a free and fair election.
Party and coalition leaders have said the 13th national election cannot be postponed beyond 2025, adding that if the election is not held within this timeframe, it will lead to increased instability in the country.
Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, general secretary of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a party aligned with the BNP’s movement, said: “We hope that by next year, the necessary reforms will be completed, and the government will move towards holding elections.”
BNP Vice Chairman Nitai Roy Chowdhury said people wanted to choose their government through an election.
“An unelected government cannot properly govern the country. We have seen this in the past. We expect that the election will be organized in 2025 and the interim government will transfer power to the people's elected representatives.”
Reforms
Organizations like the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee have accused the BNP of not really seeking reforms but instead pushing for a quick election.
However, BNP leaders insist that they too want reforms, saying the party put forth a 31-point reform proposal in 2023, including all necessary reforms.
They say most of these reforms cannot be carried out by the interim government; they require parliamentary approval. Thus, the BNP believes that the primary task of the current administration should be to complete the necessary electoral reforms and hold the election quickly.
Once an elected government takes power, it will be able to implement the remaining reforms, the BNP says.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said at a press conference that it was unfortunate that some statements were being made claiming that the BNP did not want reforms, only an election. “This is not true. We want a credible election and for that we are seeking the minimum reforms necessary to ensure a fair election.”
