June 10, 2025 — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has categorically rejected the interim government’s plan to hold national elections in April 2026, demanding instead that polls be conducted no later than December 2025. The opposition party has denounced the proposed delay as a “betrayal of the people” and vowed to intensify its campaign for an earlier vote.In a strongly worded statement issued late Monday, the BNP accused Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus of using the election timeline to prolong his grip on power and suppress political opposition. “The people of Bangladesh were promised a swift return to democracy. Postponing elections to 2026 is a betrayal of that promise and an insult to the will of the nation,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.The statement warned that the BNP, along with allied political parties and civil society groups, would escalate protests nationwide unless the election schedule is revised to allow for polls by the end of this year.The interim government, which took power last year after the ouster of the Awami League administration, has defended the proposed timeline, citing the need for administrative reforms and the restoration of a “level playing field.” Critics, however, view the move as an attempt to neutralize opposition forces and consolidate control.Political tensions are now running high across the country. Student groups have already staged demonstrations in Dhaka and other major cities, demanding the immediate announcement of an election date within 2025.Analysts warn that the government’s refusal to heed opposition demands could spark a fresh wave of unrest. “The legitimacy of the interim government hinges on its ability to deliver on its promise of free and timely elections. Ignoring popular demand for an early vote could severely undermine that legitimacy,” said Dr. Ali Riaz, a political analyst based in the United States.The BNP leadership has called for continued mass mobilization and hinted at the possibility of launching a broader non-cooperation movement if their demand for December 2025 elections is not met.As the political standoff deepens, Bangladesh faces an increasingly uncertain path toward restoring its democratic order.
