Dr Yunus, Tarique Back Pre-Ramadan Poll If Ready

A joint statement from the Chief Adviser and Acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was issued following their meeting in London, indicating that the talks marked a turning point in dispelling political stalemate and easing strained ties between the interim government and the country’s largest political party.

Reading out the statement at a joint press conference at the Dorchester Hotel in London after the meeting, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman said the talks between Tarique and Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus were held in a very cordial atmosphere.

The statement said Tarique Rahman proposed to the Chief Adviser that the national election be held a week before Ramadan next year. “BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia also believes that holding the election during that time would be appropriate.”

“The Chief Adviser said he has already announced that the election will be held in the early April next year. If all preparations are completed, it may even be possible to hold the election in the week before the start of Ramadan in 2026. But, in that case, sufficient progress would need to be made by then regarding reforms and the trial,” the joint statement reads.

It said Tarique welcomed the Chief Adviser’s position and thanked him on behalf of the party. “The Chief Adviser also thanked Mr Tarique Rahman for the fruitful discussion.”

Earlier, the high-stake meeting between Professor Yunus and Tarique ended after nearly one and a half hours of discussion on various crucial issues ahead of the general election.

The meeting began at the Dorchester Hotel in London at 2pm, Bangladesh time, on Friday and continued until 3:30pm (BST). The meeting was scheduled to end at 4pm (BST) but concluded half an hour earlier than planned.

Addressing the press conference, Dr Khalilur expressed the hope that the Election Commission will soon announce a date for the next national election.

“There is no problem over the election time. We don’t see any problem…  We both sides in the joint statement talked about (our position on) the election, and we hope the Election Commission will soon announce a date for the election,” he said.

Both Dr Khalilur Rahman and BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury who also joined the press conference said they were happy with the outcome of the meeting.

“We’re surely satisfied. We also said that not only before the election, but also after the election, we all will work together for building the country,” said Khosru.

Echoing the BNP leader, Dr Khalilur said, “The joint statement would not have been issued if both sides were not satisfied.”

Replying to a question over July charter and reform, Amir Khosru said there is already a decision that the July Charter would be framed based on consensus. “We will make both the July Charter and reforms following consensus. I’m confident we can reach a decision soon in this regard,” he said.

The BNP leader said all important issues normally came up for discussion in the meeting as there is a determination to build a new Bangladesh.

“We move ahead with a determination to build a new Bangladesh. We all want to work together to fulfill the determination we have taken to build the country. We will take forward the determination we have agreed on to build Bangladesh not only before the election, but also after the election," he said.

Amir Khosru said the Chief Adviser, Tarique Rahman and all others said the same thing -- whatever issues are agreed upon will be implemented as reforms.

Asked about Tarique Rahman’s possible return to Bangladesh, Khosru said, “We don’t think it’s necessary to discuss here in the meeting. Mr Tarique Rahman can return to the country whenever he wants. So, he will take this decision in due time.”

In reply to a question about the newly formed Nationalist Citizen Party’s (NCP) announcement that it would not participate in the election without reforming the Election Commission, Dr Khalilur said, “You should ask them (NCP). Every party has its own opinion, but we want to hold the election with participation of all.”

When asked whether the government is shifting from its April election timeline, Dr Khalilur said, “If all preparations are completed on time and there is sufficient progress in reforms and justice, it can certainly be done (the election may be held earlier).”

Amir Khosru the meeting started with the two delegations and later moved to a one-on-one discussion between the duo (Prof Yunus and Tarique Rahman). The discussion between them (the two persons) lasted for a long time.”

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, during his meeting with the party’s acting chairman, agreed to hold the next national election in mid-February next.

“Everybody was expecting that this meeting could be a turning point. We express our gratitude to Allah that this meeting has truly turned into a turning point,” he said while talking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office after the meeting.

Fakhrul said Tarique proposed bringing the election date forward from April, as earlier announced by the Chief Adviser, since that time is not favourable for voting. “The entire nation noticed with immense joy that the Chief Adviser agreed to it, and they (govt) fixed the election timeframe in the middle of February.”

He thanked Prof Yunus, saying that using his prudence he invited Tarique to the meeting and thus ended the political stalemate for taking the nation forward with new hopes.

The BNP leader said it is now necessary to move forward towards a fair election in mid-February by forgetting past misunderstandings and further consolidating the national unity.

Later in a statement, Fakhrul said the meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman removed uncertainty and brought a message of relief and new hope through a fruitful consensus to hold the next national election before Ramadan.

 “We sincerely thank Prof Muhammad Yunus for determining a logical timeframe for the election by stepping away from the previously announced unfavourable April timeline, connecting the expectations and achievements of the entire Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.

Stating that the Chief Adviser has made a timely decision realising the aspirations of people, Fakhrul said it was a move worthy of appreciation.

Holding the principle of 'Bangladesh first' in his heart, the BNP leader said Tarique has proven, as always, that his highest priority is the country's interests, sovereignty and stability.

“He (Tarique) has demonstrated a sense of responsibility by making concessions in response to the needs of the time. In the journey to establish democracy, he is not only a leader of the highest power on the streets, but also equally skilled and visionary at the dialogue table and in constructive engagement," Fakhrul said.

By gifting the Chief Adviser two books titled 'No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference' and 'Nature Matters: Vital Poems from the Global Majority' and a pen, the BNP leader said Tarique ushered in a new trend of political courtesy and knowledge-based state thinking, reports UNB. 

“We believe that through this harmony and consensus between the largest political party and the head of the interim government, democracy will lead to a victory for democracy, Bangladesh and its people,” he observed.

The BNP leader said the expectation now is that the interim government will begin all-out preparations to hold elections before next Ramadan, keeping its stated position intact.