Hopes of narrowing political differences were apparently dealt a setback on Wednesday, as a high-stakes meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP leaders ended without agreement on when the next general election should be held.

While the BNP pressed for a clear commitment to polls by December this year, the head of the interim government held firm on a broader timeline – saying elections would be conducted anytime between December 2025 and June 2026.

The outcome left the BNP visibly disappointed. The party has said it will now consult internally and with its allies before deciding on its next course of action to press home its demand for an early election.

Speaking to the Daily Sun after the meeting, a senior BNP leader, requesting anonymity, said, “We’ll continue our election preparations while simultaneously remaining on the streets with various public issue-based programmes. At the same time, we will maintain pressure on the interim government to hold the national election by January.”

He added that the party suspects there might be other motives behind the interim government’s insistence on a longer election window and that they will try to discern whether that is indeed the case.

The meeting took place at the state guest house Jamuna and began around 12:30pm, lasting approximately two hours.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led a seven-member delegation which included standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku.

On the government’s side, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan were present.

According to sources, the discussions covered a wide range of issues, including the electoral roadmap, the country’s current economic situation, the withdrawal of political cases, and the trial of what BNP leaders referred to as the “fascist regime” under Sheikh Hasina.

BNP unhappy with vague election window

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul expressed his party’s frustration.

“The chief adviser did not give us any specific date for the election. He said he wants to hold it between December and June. We are not at all satisfied with this. We clearly told him that our cut-off time is December,” he said.

He warned that delaying the election beyond December could worsen the country’s already fragile political, economic, and social climate.

“We told him clearly that any delay will only aggravate the situation, making it increasingly difficult to control,” he said.

When asked whether he believed the election would be delayed under the current timeframe, Fakhrul replied, “He (the chief adviser) said the window is from December to June. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen in December. But he’s left open the possibility of taking it up to June. For us, that’s not acceptable.”

Pressed on what the BNP’s next move would be, he said, “We’ll discuss within our party and with our alliance partners. After that, we’ll inform the public of our decision.”

Fakhrul also stated that the BNP used the meeting to place its key demands before the interim government. “We told him that given the current situation in the country, we strongly believe the crisis can only be resolved through a swift, acceptable election.”

BNP Open to Charter of Consensus

During the meeting, the BNP reiterated its support for political reforms and expressed willingness to collaborate on a consensus-based charter. “We’re fully cooperating with the ongoing reform commissions. We gave our opinions to the National Consensus Commission just a few days ago, and we have another meeting coming up tomorrow,” said Fakhrul.

He added, “We’ve made it clear that we’re ready to draft a common charter on the issues where all parties agree. Once that’s in place, elected political leaders can take it forward and implement the remaining reforms. That was the BNP’s central message.”

As a gesture of formal communication, the BNP delegation also handed over a letter to the chief adviser outlining the party’s observations on the country’s current situation and its expectations regarding the transition process.

CA office responds: No intention to delay polls

In a post-meeting press briefing, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul sought to clarify the interim government’s position, stressing that the timeline of December 2025 to June 2026 is not meant to delay the polls.

“The chief adviser has consistently said the election will be held within this timeframe. If it’s possible in December, it will be held in December. If not, then as soon as possible after that. There is no hidden agenda to stretch it till June unnecessarily,” he said.

He also addressed concerns about reform delays.

“Even if the July Charter is finalised soon, some legal and policy steps may take time. That’s just the reality of governance. But we are committed to moving swiftly.”

Asif Nazrul also underscored the importance of justice as a mandate of the interim government. “Over a thousand people lost their lives and tens of thousands were injured. People want justice for them. If we walk away now without delivering that and just hold an election, how will we answer to the public – or to ourselves?”

He added, “The December to June timeline is shaped by our reform obligations, justice processes, and the broader national agenda. We want to complete these responsibly.”

Political cases, tribunal, and reform talks

On the issue of political cases, Asif Nazrul confirmed that significant progress had already been made.

“The prosecutor’s office was reorganised just three months ago. Since then, 7,000 cases have been withdrawn, and another 16,000 are under review.”

He also responded to BNP’s demand for a second tribunal to try Sheikh Hasina-era crimes.

“This trial is not being delayed when compared to similar trials held during the previous regime. Work is underway to form a second tribunal.” The law adviser acknowledged BNP’s repeated claim that its leaders and activists were persecuted during the “fascist regime,” and said the interim government respects that narrative.

Importantly, he noted that the BNP has shown a “positive response” to reform proposals coming from both the National Consensus Commission and other government-led initiatives.

“They have agreed to most of the recommendations. We believe they are genuinely committed to seeing through the reforms,” he said, adding that the July Charter is likely to be finalised soon.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, along with deputy press secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, were also present at the post-meeting briefing.

This was the second official meeting between the BNP and the chief adviser since 10 February, when Mirza Fakhrul led a similar delegation to discuss the electoral timeline and political situation.

At that time too, the chief adviser had indicated that elections were being planned for December 2025, but left open the possibility of adjustments depending on reform progress.