National Citizen Party (NCP) chief Nahid Islam, who recently resigned as an adviser to the interim government, stated that holding the next general election this year will be challenging due to administrative failures in ensuring public safety across the country.
Nahid, a key student leader who played a crucial role in forcing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee the country amid the violent July-August mass uprising, made these comments in an exclusive interview with the UK-based news agency Reuters.
Nahid's remarks came after Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, in an interview with BBC, stated that Bangladesh's general elections would be held between December 2025 and March 2026, depending on how quickly his government can implement reforms deemed necessary for free and fair polls.
Reuters reported that the interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, said this month that elections could take place by the end of 2025, although unrest continues.
"In the past seven months, we all expected the policing system and law and order to be restored through short-term reforms. It has happened to some extent, but not to our expectations," said Nahid Islam, the head of the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) and former student leader.
"In the current law and order situation and policing system, I don’t think it is possible to hold a national election," the 26-year-old said in his first interview as NCP head at his government-provided villa in Dhaka.
Islam, who was until recently an adviser in the interim government, is the first significant politician to cast doubt on Yunus' election timeline.
Political analysts believe his youth-led party could significantly reshape national politics, which has long been dominated by Hasina's Awami League party and her rival, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
These parties have demanded early elections, arguing that power should be returned to a democratically elected government.
Incidents of unrest have included attacks on symbols of Hasina's government and clashes between student groups. There have also been reports of attacks on homes, businesses, and temples of Hindus and other minorities in the Muslim-majority nation, although the interim government says these reports are exaggerated.
Islam said the NCP, which was formed just last week, would be ready for the polls whenever they are held.
However, he added that before elections can take place, it is crucial to reach a consensus on the so-called 'Proclamation of the July Revolution'—a charter the interim government plans to prepare in consultation with political parties and student activists.
The document is intended to reflect the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people and honor the 1,000 lives lost in last year's violence. Student protesters dropped their calls for constitutional changes after the interim government said it would prepare the proclamation.
"If we can reach that consensus within a month, we can call for elections immediately. But if it takes more time, the election should be deferred," he added.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
