The BNP on Tuesday reiterated its demand for the immediate announcement of a clear and specific roadmap to hold a free, fair, and impartial national election by December this year.
“We demand the prompt announcement of a specific roadmap for the formation of a national parliament by December 2025 through a fair, free, and impartial election,” said BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, he said that giving top priority to the national election—reflecting the people’s highest aspiration—should be the main agenda of the current government.
“Otherwise, it will be difficult for the BNP, as a party of the people, to continue its cooperation with this government,” he added.
Embracing the spirit of the student-led mass uprising in July, Mosharraf emphasized that the top priority now is to establish an elected political government as soon as possible, in line with public expectations, in order to restore the people’s lost democratic, constitutional, and human rights, particularly their right to vote.
However, he expressed disappointment that the government’s recent statement, issued through the press secretary of Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, following his discussions with political parties, lacked a clear roadmap for the national parliamentary election.
He reaffirmed that the BNP and other political parties have never demanded the resignation of the chief adviser and do not seek it now.
“But we have consistently called for a roadmap for a free and impartial national parliamentary election by December 2025, under the leadership of the interim government,” Mosharraf said.
He stressed that reforms are an ongoing process and that both reforms and the electoral process can proceed simultaneously.
In addition, he said that the trial of the fallen fascist forces, their accomplices, their party, and those accused of crimes against humanity will continue.
The BNP leader also responded to the Advisory Council’s claim that the government’s responsibilities were being hampered by incitement from defeated forces and a foreign conspiracy.
“We would like to state that the only way to prevent such incitement and foreign interference is to hold a fair and impartial national parliamentary election as soon as possible. To achieve this goal, the immediate presentation of a specific election roadmap is essential—there is no alternative,” he said.
Mosharraf expressed hope that the interim government would run the country based on consensus, in the interest of maintaining national stability, preventing the deterioration of law and order, keeping daily essentials within the people’s purchasing power, and revitalizing investment, business, and trade.
