Staff Correspondent:

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has warned that if the upcoming national election is not conducted fairly, the interim government’s efforts will amount to nothing.

Speaking at a roundtable title “Expectations and Challenges of Fair Elections,” organized by the Citizen Coalition at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka’s Topkhana Road on Thursday, Salahuddin stressed that a credible electoral process is non-negotiable for any meaningful political progress.

“The greatest challenge facing our nation today is ensuring that the election scheduled for next February is free, fair, and impartial,” he said. “At present, it appears the Election Commission is operating according to its announced roadmap — but procedure alone is not enough. The substance must match the form.”

He noted that while Bangladesh may have moved beyond what he described as “fascist rule,” a national consensus on transitioning to a truly democratic process through homegrown mechanisms has yet to be reached.

“There is still time,” he added. “I remain hopeful that through dialogue and mutual understanding, we can forge that consensus before it’s too late.”

Salahuddin emphasized that constitutional amendments can only be legitimately enacted by an elected National Assembly. “Any attempt to alter the constitution outside this democratic framework risks legal challenge and undermines the very foundation of our governance,” he cautioned.

Acknowledging the complexity of ongoing reform discussions — with over a hundred proposals on the table — he admitted that complete agreement among all political parties is unlikely. “But democracy’s strength lies in compromise,” he said. “We must rise above partisan interests and find common ground for the sake of the nation and the future of our democracy. That is the true beauty of democracy.”