The much-anticipated meeting between Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to take place on Friday in London, United Kingdom.
The political landscape of Bangladesh is abuzz with curiosity and speculation surrounding this high voltage meeting, which is scheduled between 9am and 11am local time at London’s Dorchester Hotel.
BNP leaders familiar with the update have said that the primary focus of the meeting will be the upcoming national parliamentary elections. As a result, the nation’s attention is firmly fixed on London.
Since the formation of the interim government in August 2024, the BNP has been consistently demanding a concrete electoral roadmap from it.
The party has argued that holding the general election by December is essential to resolve the country’s ongoing political crisis.
According to the BNP, the year’s final quarter is the most suitable time for elections, especially considering favourable weather conditions of the season.
Meanwhile, in his address to the nation on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus announced the government’s plan to hold the elections in the first week of April next year.
However, this announcement has failed to satisfy the BNP.
The party contends that holding elections in April is unrealistic due to the expected heatwave and the overlap with the month of Ramadan, both of which would negatively affect electoral activities.
This meeting between Tarique Rahman and Dr Yunus comes at a time when the rift over the election schedule between the interim government and the BNP has steadily been widening.
Reliable sources say that all necessary issues will be discussed at the meeting. However, the BNP’s main agenda will be to bring the election date forward.
If the government agrees to move away from April, the BNP is reportedly willing to reconsider its December demand.
In that case, proposing the first half of February as the election window might become the focal point of the negotiations.
Speaking about the meeting, BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee said: “We believe this will be a fruitful discussion. Based on the talks, a suitable date for a fair election will be decided. Both the BNP and the entire nation are hopeful about that outcome.”
Political analysts believe that this meeting could be a beginning toward a resolution of the deadlock surrounding Bangladesh’s next national election.
As the country’s largest political party, the BNP remains the strongest contender in the race for power. Therefore, it is crucial for the government to clearly understand the party’s position regarding electoral reforms and judicial processes.
Likewise, Tarique Rahman must gain clarity about the ruling quarter’s plans and stance.
This meeting is intended to create a framework for mutual understanding, potentially serving as the first step toward compromise.
Additionally, analysts speculate that Dr Yunus may seek an “exit route” from Tarique Rahman for his role post-election.
Commenting on the matter, Professor Dr Lt Col Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of the Jatiya Nirbachon Parjobekkhon Parishad (Janipop), said: “I think Dr Yunus will try to negotiate a respectable exit route through this discussion. He is now riding a tiger, and the key issue will be how he can dismount safely.”
He added: “The BNP is currently the largest active political force, so naturally, he will have to seek that from them.”
He further said: “Without the BNP’s participation and support, the July-August movement wouldn’t have succeeded.”
He also said: “But Dr Yunus has been favoring the NCP in all aspects, as it has essentially become his dream political party. His proposal for elections in April is not realistic, and he knows it very well.”
According to BNP sources, Tarique Rahman’s primary focus during the talks will be on three issues: elections, reforms, and justice. However, the main emphasis will be on holding the elections in December.
If that is not possible, he will press for securing an election date by February at the latest.
On Thursday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi spoke to journalists at the party’s central office in Paltan about the upcoming meeting between Tarique Rahman and Dr Yunus.
He said: “The entire nation is looking to London. A meaningful conclusion to these debates is expected from this meeting. The people of Bangladesh and the BNP believe this. We will know more details after tomorrow’s meeting.”
Meanwhile, the announcement of the Tarique-Yunus meeting has sparked significant excitement among BNP grassroots activists.
They hope that this meeting will resolve the ongoing crisis with the government and pave the way for a free, fair and acceptable election.
Asif Siraj Rabbani, a member of the Bogra district BNP, said: “The BNP and the entire nation are looking to this meeting with hope. The crisis that has emerged in the country- we hope this meeting will help resolve it.”
He added: “The government’s plan to hold elections in April is impractical, as that time coincides with Ramadan. Additionally, the weather in April isn’t suitable for holding elections.”
He also said: “We expect our leader to raise these issues with the chief adviser. Since we are proposing December for the election, we believe that through discussions, an appropriate date can be finalized, and the crisis can be resolved.”
Khulna city BNP General Secretary Shafiqul Alam Tuhin echoed similar sentiments saying: “The nation is currently in a crisis regarding the restoration of democracy. To resolve this, we need an elected government.”
He added: “We believe that the meeting between Mr Yunus and our acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will remove all obstacles. We are hopeful that a positive decision will emerge from the meeting.”
