Leaders of the 12-party alliance, who previously organised joint movements with the BNP against the former Awami League government, have expressed support for the BNP's position on holding the next parliamentary elections by 2025.

They argue that failing to conduct the elections within this timeframe could lead to further delays. As a result, they have agreed to exert pressure on the interim government to ensure the elections take place by next year.

This stance was shared during a meeting with the BNP's liaison committee at the party chairperson's Gulshan office last evening.

The alliance leaders also reiterated their commitment to supporting the BNP's decisions regarding the national election and the formation of a new political party by student leaders involved in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July and August.

A source from the meeting told The Daily Star that the meeting agreed to demand the election be held by December 2025.

"We heard their [the BNP's] views on the formation of the new political party, which appears to have support from the interim government. While everyone has the right to form a political party, doing so with state backing is unacceptable," the source, speaking anonymously, said.

This dialogue marks the beginning of the BNP's consultations with like-minded parties that stood with them during the anti-Awami League movements. The talks aim to solidify unity among political parties and gather their opinions on the upcoming general election.

After the meeting, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that no final decisions had been made regarding the meeting's agenda.

"We have initiated the dialogue, and the parties have assured us of their continued support, as they did during the anti-Awami League movements."

He added that the meeting focused on the country's current political and economic situation, with further discussions planned with other like-minded parties. "We will make decisions after these talks conclude."

Mostafa Jamal Haidar, chairman of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), noted that the meeting also addressed the possibility of organising joint programmes between the BNP and its allied parties.

"The need for unity remains. We must strengthen this unity moving forward. We will announce our joint programmes soon," he said.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Bangladesh LDP Secretary General Shahadat Hossain Salim, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Chairman Nurul Amin Bepari, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party President Rashed Pradhan, among others, were also present at the meeting.

Warning his party men against complacency, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday said the next national election will pose a much harder challenge to the party than any previous ones held in Bangladesh.

"It may be true that our main opponent has become weaker, but, even so, this election will be far tougher than any previous elections," Tarique said during a virtual discussion at a workshop held simultaneously in Khulna and Mymensingh yesterday.

"We are heading towards a very challenging election," he said, claiming that people, even 20 years ago, could vote without fear.

"If you compare the present situation with the 2001 election, you'll see that people's mindset has changed. People are now much more aware [of the situation]," he said, adding that social media has played a key role in bringing about the changes.

Tarique urged party members to remain cautious.

"If any leaders or activists around you have made mistakes, it is your responsibility as a leader to guide them onto the right path, make them aware [of the changed scenario]," he added.

"Colleagues, if anyone [of you] thinks that no one will find out about it [your misdeeds], that's a misconception. People find out," he warned.

He said BNP could only come to power if the party workers won people's trust.

"We haven't come to power yet. We don't know if we will. We can only achieve that if we earn the support of the people," he told party men.

Earlier, the Khulna city unit of the BNP brought out a procession celebrating the acquittal of Tarique in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack.

Hundreds of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, led by the party's central Information Affairs Secretary Azizul Bari Helal, joined the procession starting from the KD Ghosh Road area.

Tarique has been living in exile in London for over one and a half decades.

BNP Standing Committee Member Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday said Tarique may return to the country before the next election, which Hafizuddin expects to be held in 2025.

"Tarique Rahman will return next year. We are anticipating elections during that time, and we hope he comes back before that," Hafizuddin said during a press briefing at his Gulshan residence.

"Tarique Rahman still has four cases against him. Party leaders and activists are very excited because the path to his return has become much smoother. We hope these cases will be resolved soon," he added.

Hafizuddin also expressed concern over law and order, high commodity prices, and political instability.

"The law and order situation has significantly deteriorated, and people are struggling to cope with skyrocketing prices," he said, blaming the "agents of the fallen Awami League government".

"We hear a lot from the interim government, but nothing about elections. It seems as though talking about elections by political parties is being considered as a crime," he added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today expressed disappointment over Chief Adviser Professor Mohammad Yunus' speech making 100 days of interim government.

"While the speech, a well-drafted one, has risen hopes of the people. I am a bit disappointed... We had hoped the chief adviser, with all his wisdom, would identify the pressing problems and propose a roadmap for elections," said Fakhrul at a discussion at Jatiya Press Club.

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Clarifying his intention on stressing the need for an election, Fakhrul said, "I emphasise elections because holding them would address half of our problems."

Stressing BNP's stance over its support to the interim government, Fakhrul mentioned that his party has not opposed or obstructed any of the recent reform initiatives by them.

"We are supporting you at every step," he said.

In a televised address to the nation, marking 100 days of the interim government, Yunus said that the reforms may delay the election by a few months.

Additionally, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir highlighted the importance of maintaining strong ties between BNP leaders and students.

"No gap should ever emerge between us and the students. Students have the right to voice their opinions. We have grown older. We are more calculative now. We evaluate which actions can be taken and which cannot, what is appropriate to do now and what is not," he said.

"That's why we believe holding elections quickly is essential for the well-being of the country and its people. This comes from our own experience."

He added, "This government lacks a mandate. The longer they stay in power, the more problems will arise."

"This is not an elected government, so where does its strength come from?"

Fakhrul said that his party supports implementing reforms within a reasonable and appropriate timeframe.

"It should not take so long that people start to suspect you are trying to cling to power. We have had such experiences in the past," he added.

Referencing the tenure of the Moinuddin-led caretaker government, he said, "Their attempts to form a so-called King's Party failed as the people rejected it, forcing them to flee the country."

The BNP believes that the cabinet expansion is an attempt of this interim government to prolong its stay in power. Considering this, the party plans to beef up its street programmes to put pressure on the government to call for elections, said party leaders.

The issue of making the cabinet larger was discussed in the standing committee meeting, the highest policymaking body of the party, held at its Gulshan office on Monday night.

At the beginning of the meeting, a standing committee member raised the issues of expansion and the Interim Government Ordinance 2024.

The BNP leaders discussed the draft ordinance that specifies that the caretaker administration will remain in power until the 13th parliamentary election is held and a new prime minister takes charge, with no fixed term outlined. Questions cannot be raised over the appointments of the chief adviser and other advisers as per the draft ordinance.

Party leaders in the meeting said that such a draft was expected but some members expressed concerns about the lack of clarity on the specific number of advisers in the interim government. Regarding the appointments of three new advisers, BNP leaders said that as questions were raised from different quarters about the appointments of two advisers, the party must move cautiously.

If they were appointed after proper scrutiny, controversy could have been averted, said a standing committee member, wishing not to be named.

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Earlier, the BNP expressed reservations about another adviser, Ali Imam Majumdar. The interim government appointed renowned filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, AkijBashir Group Managing Director Sk Bashir Uddin, and special assistant to chief adviser Mahfuj Alam as advisers to the interim government on Sunday.

The chief adviser also reassigned some advisers and appointed three special assistants who would be of the rank of state ministers.

Party leaders decided that they must put pressure on the government over the election and would hold 10 rallies in different organisational divisions of the party, said meeting sources.

"We have to hold big rallies that will exert pressure on the government and then the interim government will go for elections. Otherwise, the government won't do it," said another leader.

The party will organise a rally on December 16 to mark Victory Day.

Earlier in this month, the BNP decided to take to the streets in March or April next year if the interim government does not declare an election roadmap. The party also discussed it at the November 7 rally where tens of thousands of people joined.

In Monday's standing committee meeting, some party members also gave their views on the BNP-Jamaat relationship, said meeting sources.

In the changed circumstances after August 5, BNP's distance from Jamaat has widened, particularly regarding appointments to key positions in the administration and field-level offices. Certain statements from Jamaat leaders have caused a degree of "dissatisfaction" within BNP.

Despite this, some members commented that the BNP should not widen its distance from Jamaat for the sake of national unity, which is essential for the parliamentary election, said party leaders.

However, a few opined differently on the issue.