Is the BNP Right to Worry About the December Elections?

Dhaka, May 17 (NationPress) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) raised alarms on Saturday regarding the potential for their December election deadline to slip away unnoticed as the interim government under Muhammad Yunus shows no signs of initiating election preparations.

Senior leaders within the BNP have pointed out that even after nine months since the Yunus-led interim government assumed power, discussions about conducting elections remain absent. Furthermore, several controversial actions, such as the establishment of human corridors to Rakhine and outsourcing port operations, have cast significant doubt on the government's genuine motives.

The leaders underscored the increasing pressure from the party's base, urging them to take to the streets to compel the interim government to unveil a definitive election roadmap and conduct elections within this year.

According to local media, an anonymous BNP leader expressed concerns that the ongoing ban on the Awami League's activities, coupled with rising tensions among the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, could lead to unnecessary street protests, complicating the political landscape further.

The BNP suspects that the recent prohibition on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League activities and the subsequent suspension of the party’s registration by the Election Commission may be elements of a larger conspiracy involving both local and international players aimed at extending the interim government's tenure.

“New issues are constantly being introduced, reforms are postponed, and the overall situation is maintained in disarray. It seems to be part of a broader scheme to indefinitely postpone elections,” a BNP Standing Committee member remarked to UNB on condition of anonymity.

“Our youth rally set for May 28 in Dhaka is poised to convey a strong message to the government against unnecessary delays in the elections,” stated another BNP leader.

This week, senior BNP figure Mirza Abbas accused the interim government of aligning with dubious foreign interests rather than prioritizing the needs of the Bangladeshi populace.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia recently returned to Bangladesh after four months of medical treatment in London, with reports suggesting her return aims to intensify pressure on the Yunus-led interim government for national elections.

Last month, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas highlighted the visible attempts to postpone the elections, claiming, “Some individuals are openly discussing extending Yunus’s rule for five years. Such maneuvers will not only tarnish his reputation but also inflict grave damage on the country.”

The BNP has repeatedly expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of national parliamentary elections scheduled for December, with senior leaders alleging a conspiracy to delay the polls.

The much-advertised unity among political factions in Bangladesh, which was notably displayed during the ousting of the democratically elected Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, appears to be gradually diminishing.