Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman yesterday said the national election can be held only after basic reforms, the trial for crimes against humanity committed in July, and the establishment of a proper election system.
BNP leaders believe that the government is trying to cater to the interests of multiple political groups, which may explain the conflicting statements.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in an interview with BBC published yesterday said the election would be held between December 2025 and March next year, depending on how quickly the government could institute reforms necessary for free and fair elections.
The government has assured the BNP of working to hold the national election by December this year, the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday.
He added that his party would in no way accept any local government elections before the national election
The BNP is set to take to the streets demanding general elections by the end of this year and protesting the rising prices of essentials, said several standing committee members of the party.
The BNP yesterday demanded that the interim government arrange the next national election by August this year in the country’s best interest.
The BNP wants the national election by the middle of this year and local government polls afterwards.
There is a public perception that the interim government is intentionally delaying the election process, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
The BNP's official website -- www.bnpbangladesh.com -- was blocked last week as it contained “distasteful” content, said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday evening in an e-mail to the Election Commission.
Jatiya Oikyafront leaders have taken preparations to bring people from neighbouring districts today to their rally in Rajshahi, amid widespread arrests and the ongoing transport strike in Natore.
History says Chattogram division is a bastion of the BNP.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her party wants a free and fair election so that people can pick their leaders to run the country.
With multiple MP hopefuls in each constituency of Khulna division, the Awami League may have to deal with a serious problem of possible rebel candidates, while the BNP is in a better position with fewer MP hopefuls.
History says it has been a swing division since 2001. The first two national polls results, since democracy was restored, show none of the two major parties enjoyed absolute supremacy here.
As the BNP and Juktofront negotiate forging a “greater unity”, disagreements persist over bringing checks and balances if the parties involved assume office.
After a brief pause in the efforts towards “greater unity”, the BNP and other political parties involved will begin to sit from today to give it a concrete shape.
The BNP has informally started the process for a seat sharing deal with Jamaat-e-Islami and other alliance partners, indicating that it would not sever ties with the Islamist party.
BNP demands the reconstitution of the Election Commission as it said the current Commission is not capable of conducting a credible national election.
