On June 7 (Eid al-Adha), at her Gulshan residence Firoza, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia advised the party to avoid any conflict with the Interim Government’s Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, over the upcoming national parliamentary election and related reforms. Her key points were as follows:
1. Not Conflict, but Compromise
Khaleda Zia stressed that there is no need to be adversarial with Dr. Yunus. Whether it’s the election date, election commission reforms, or other disputes, they should be resolved through dialogue.
> “Are they our competitors? Why create conflict?” she asked, urging her party to seek understanding through discussion.
2. Bridging Internal Distance through Dialogue
She noted that a slight chill has developed between the party’s current and acting leadership (Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman) and encouraged them to overcome it quickly via conversation and compromise.
3. Final Agenda at the London Meeting
On June 13 in London, the first item on the agenda for the meeting between Dr. Yunus and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will be finalizing the election date. They will also address differences over the election commission and voter registration.
4. BNP Secretary General’s Remarks
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called this meeting “extremely important both nationally and internationally,” adding that its success could open new dimensions in Bangladesh’s politics.
5. April vs. December: Election Timing
• If the government insists on an April election, BNP’s preparations and campaign planning remain unsettled.
• BNP demands elections by December, arguing that campaigning right after Ramadan—and during intense heat and monsoon season—would be impractical.
• Holding polls just after Eid al-Fitr would hamper public meetings, double campaign costs, and strain candidates and activists.
Conclusion
With the election date and commission reforms now at the heart of political focus, Khaleda Zia’s call for dialogue over conflict aims to keep the BNP united and pave the way for coordinated engagement with the government, fostering a more supportive political environment moving forward.