Dhaka, Jun 09 (V7N) — Senior BNP leaders have questioned the sudden announcement of holding national elections in April next year instead of December, alleging that there is a biased attempt to delay the polls to serve specific interests. They claim that such a move could plunge the country’s democratic process into deeper uncertainty.

BNP central leaders voiced concerns over whether the interim government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, will be able to conduct a truly neutral and participatory election. Despite official statements from the interim administration regarding electoral reforms, BNP leaders maintain that the timing and motives behind the proposed April schedule appear questionable.

BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain criticized the lack of a clear and fixed election roadmap. “We expected the government to announce a specific date, not vague plans for reforms,” he said, adding that if there is genuine political will, elections could easily be arranged by December. “There is no logical reason to delay,” he asserted.

Echoing similar sentiments, senior BNP leader Hafiz Uddin Ahmed argued that holding elections after February would be impractical due to Ramadan and academic examinations. He alleged that the postponement appears to be designed to benefit certain political interests, specifically mentioning the National Consensus Party (NCP), which has been linked to Dr. Yunus.

“This advisory government did not come to establish democracy. The people of this country, together with the democratic political forces, will have to fight to restore democracy,” Hafiz added.

Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury raised suspicions over external influences behind the postponement. “Elections could be held as early as September, October, or November. Why the delay until April? Whose agenda is this serving?” he asked, warning that this uncertainty might deepen the political crisis in Bangladesh.

BNP leaders concluded that the sudden change in election plans raises serious doubts about the sincerity of the interim government. They reiterated that any election must be held under a truly neutral administration to ensure fairness, transparency, and democratic legitimacy.

END/MSS/AJ