Staff Correspondent:

BNP reiterated its demand on Tuesday for the immediate announcement of a clear and specific roadmap to hold a free, fair and impartial national election by December this year.

“We demand the immediate announcement of a specific roadmap for the formation of a national parliament by December 2025 through a fair, free and impartial election,” said BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said giving top priority to the election, the highest aspiration of the people, should be the main agenda of the current government.

“Otherwise, it will be difficult for BNP, as a party of people, to continue its cooperation with this government,” the BNP leader said.

Embracing the spirit of the student-led July mass uprising, he said the highest priority now is to establish an elected political government as soon as possible, in line with public expectations, to restore people’s lost democratic rights, constitutional rights, human rights and particularly their right to vote.

Mosharraf, however, said their party has got disappointed that the government’s statement came through Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus’ press secretary, regarding his recent discussions with political parties, lacks a clear roadmap for the national parliamentary election.

He reaffirmed that the BNP and other political parties have never called for the resignation of the Chief Advisor, nor do they seek it now.

“But, we have consistently called for a roadmap for a free and impartial national parliamentary election by December 2025 under the leadership of the interim government,” Mosharraf said.

He stressed that since reform is an ongoing process, both reforms and the electoral process can proceed simultaneously.

Besides, Mosharraf said, the trial process against the fallen fascist forces, their cohorts, their party and those accused of crimes against humanity will continue.

The BNP leader also noted that the advisory council’s statement had claimed the government was being made unable to fulfill its responsibilities due to incitement by defeated forces and as part of a foreign conspiracy.

“We would like to say that it is only possible to stop the incitement of defeated forces and foreign conspiracy through a fair and impartial national parliamentary election as soon as possible. To achieve that goal, it is essential to present a specific roadmap for holding the national parliamentary election immediately—there is no alternative,” he said.

Mosharraf expressed the hope that the interim government would run the state on the basis of consensus, in the interest of maintaining the country’s stability, preventing the deterioration of the law and order situation, keeping the prices of daily necessities within the reach of the people’s purchasing power and bringing dynamism to investment, business, and trade.

BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Hafizuddin Ahmed were also present at the press conference.