On 13 June 2025, at the Dorchester Hotel in London, Dr. Muhammad Yunus—Advisor to the Interim Government—and BNP’s Acting Chairperson Tareq Rahman held a landmark meeting. What emerged was not merely an electoral timetable but a renewed vision for cooperation between the opposition and the caretaker administration.
Key Meeting Details
• Date & Venue: 13 June 2025, Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London
• Participants: Dr. Muhammad Yunus (Interim Government’s Chief Advisor) and Tareq Rahman (BNP Acting Chairperson)
• Duration: Approximately 1½ hours, from 9 AM to 10:30 AM local time
• Joint Briefing: Following the discussion, National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman and BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury joined a joint press briefing
Joint Statement Highlights
• Election Timeline: Both sides agreed on the possibility of holding the national parliamentary election before Ramadan 2026 (typically mid‑February)
• Preconditions: They emphasized that sufficient progress in judicial and administrative reforms must precede any vote
Background of Recent Tensions
• Rakhine Corridor Dispute: Weeks earlier, BNP had demanded the resignation of National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman over a humanitarian corridor issue in Rakhine
• Further Resignations Sought: At that time, senior BNP leaders also called for the withdrawal of Advisors Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and Mahfuz Alam
Potential Impacts of the Meeting
• Alleviating Electoral Anxiety: Agreeing on a fixed timeframe has eased long‑standing fears about election timing
• Aligning Priorities: Both the Interim Government and the BNP placed the urgency of a fair vote at the center of discussions
• Political Reconciliation: There is renewed interest in revisiting commitments made during last October’s interim‑government declaration (15 July–8 August guarantee of no prosecutions)
Analysis & Recommendations
• Sustaining Consensus: Ongoing dialogue must track implementation of agreed reforms and keep the public informed
• Inclusive Engagement: Dr. Yunus should convene follow‑up meetings with all major parties to avoid perceptions of one‑sided deals
• Post‑Election Legitimacy: To bolster the next government’s legitimacy, opposition leaders should be formally integrated into any transitional process
• Neutral Oversight: Invite UN‑ or IAEA‑style international observers to ensure full transparency during the vote
