The Senior Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday expressed hope that a clear timeline for the upcoming national election would be announced soon, following the recent meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMN Nasir Uddin, reports UNB.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Centre, where BNP is set to launch a 36-day programme marking the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising, Rizvi said the public’s expectations hinge on the announcement of a definitive election schedule.
“We believe that the expectations and aspirations of the people will be reflected in setting the election date and announcing the schedule,” Rizvi said. In response to a journalist’s question on whether BNP anticipated a specific election date following the Yunus-CEC meeting, he replied, “We certainly hope so.”
BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, July-August Mass Uprising, Mourning, and Victory Anniversary Celebration Committee Member Secretary and BNP Mass Education Affairs Secretary Professor Dr Morshed Hasan Khan, BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, central leaders -- Habibur Rashid Habib, Dr Mahdi Amin, Dr Tawfiqul Islam Mithil, Abdus Sattar Patwari, Farzana Sharmin Putul, among others, were present.
On Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner Nasir Uddin paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Prof Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna. While details of the meeting have not been disclosed, political observers speculate that discussions on election timing and institutional readiness were central to the conversation.
Rizvi said public discourse across social and political platforms reflects rising anticipation about the timing of the election. He stressed that the people and political parties trust that Prof Yunus and the interim government will work in the interest of democracy and ensure that a free and fair election is held within a logical timeframe.
The BNP leader emphasized the need for democratic accountability, stating that future public representatives must be answerable to the people. He criticized the existing political structure under Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, alleging a rise in unchecked power and the emergence of “godfather” figures in parliament.
Rizvi also raised alarms over the current economic and social crises, noting a sharp decline in GDP growth and the prevalence of “mob culture” that he said threatens national cohesion. “Last year, our economic growth was 4.2%; this year, it has fallen to 3.9%. If this trend continues and investment remains stagnant, it will be disastrous,” he said.
He urged the interim government to place greater focus on the economy, calling for urgent reforms and support for sectors in decline. “The government must ensure reforms are implemented and hold elections in a reasonable timeframe,” Rizvi added.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
