Politics

BNP’s Khosru questions delay in election, casts doubt on government’s intentions

He says 90 percent of the political parties want election within December

BNP’s Khosru casts doubt on Yunus govt’s ability to hold election

Chattogram Bureau

bdnews24.com

Published : 08 Jun 2025, 09:00 PM

Updated : 08 Jun 2025, 09:00 PM

Senior BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has questioned whether the interim government is planning to delay the general election beyond December to serve the interests of a particular group, raising concerns about its capacity to hold credible polls in the future.

Speaking on Sunday, Khosru said 90 percent of political parties want the crucial election to be held within this year.

“The public is beginning to question whether an election under this government is even possible,” he said.

The BNP has been vocal in its demand for the 13th parliamentary election to be held by the end of 2025, as the interim administration continues its state reform initiatives.

Addressing the nation on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha on Sunday, Chief Advisor Yunus said: “After reviewing the ongoing reform activities related to justice, reform and elections, I am announcing to the countrymen that the next national election will be held on a day in the first half of April 2026.”

The BNP promptly expressed its disappointment with the proposed election timeline, saying that an April date would be “unsuitable” for holding the polls.

Standing Committee member Khosru said, “I think over 90 percent of political parties have decided to hold elections in December. They have made their proposals and opinions clear.

“Since our reform initiatives are supposed to be completed in a year or one and a half years, taking longer [for an election] is unreasonable.”

On trying the perpetrators of the July massacre, he said, “The judicial process is in progress, under the judiciary. This is happening in court, the trials will continue regardless of which government [is in charge].”

Noting that the government’s window to adjudicate those charged for crimes during the July Uprising extends until, he said: “If the government still cannot bring them [to justice], BNP will enact justice upon those who remain.”

He stressed that no other party in Bangladesh suffered more than BNP.

"It is the BNP’s responsibility to ensure that all those involved in this oppression are brought to justice. We will pursue this, regardless of whether anyone else does. And once that is done, the election cannot be delayed beyond December under any circumstances."

He said, “According to many, elections should be held in October or November after these issues are resolved. So why after December? This question has emerged in everyone’s mind. In whose interest should it be held after December? In the interest of which group?

“If a decision is made in the interest of that group, ignoring 90 percent of political parties, then doubts will arise in people’s minds."

Claiming that almost all political parties in the country want elections by December, he said, “What happens if [the timeline] is pushed after December which is followed by the month of Ramadan, our month of sacrifice and restraint, of religious sentiments?

“We don’t want election programmes that month. Then we have exams, followed by weather-related problems, cyclones. So we want elections by December. That is our decision.”

BNP leaders and activists came to Amir Khasru’s house on Sunday to exchange Eid greetings.