Election in mid-February as Chief Adviser agrees: Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Gainful Islam Alamgir.

Dhaka, June 13 - BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday 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.

Fakhrul said a joint statement was issued after the meeting, clearly stating that the talks between the two leaders were held in a cordial atmosphere.

The BNP leader said the election issue was the prime one among other matters discussed at the meeting.

He 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.

Praising the leadership of BNP’s acting chairman, Mirza Fakhrul said Tarique Rahman, through this meeting, has once again demonstrated that he possesses the statesmanlike qualities that set him apart among the leaders of political parties in Bangladesh.

He said the entire nation was anxious about the outcome of the meeting, but Tarique made the meeting a success. “On behalf of our party and all its leaders and activists, I extend heartfelt thanks to Tarique Rahman.”

Noting that there was uncertainty all around, the BNP leader said, “Many were saying many things. But today, the two leaders have proved that the people of Bangladesh can still unite in the time of national need—and that the leaders can indeed lead,” Fakhrul said.

He also described the Chief Adviser’s message for bringing forward the election timeline as good news for the country’s democracy.

Fakhrul said he spoke to Tarique Rahman soon after the meeting with Prof Yunus ended, and the BNP acting chairman expressed his gratitude and respect for those who carried out the struggle over the last 15 years, shed blood and those who made sacrifices during the July-August mass uprising.

He said Tarique also paid homage to all martyrs and prayed for the salvation of their departed souls.

Besides, Fakhrul said the BNP acting chairman expressed gratitude to the country’s people for continuing their struggle for democracy and thanked them.

Earlier, a joint statement from the Chief Adviser and Acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was issued following their meeting in London.

It said the meeting between Tarique and Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus was held in a very cordial atmosphere.

The statement said Tarique Rahman proposed to the Chief Adviser that the national election be held before Ramadan next year. “Party 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 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.”

The high-stake meeting between Professor Yunus and Tarique ended after a 90-minute 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), said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. The meeting was scheduled to end at 4pm but concluded half an hour earlier than planned. - UNB