Most parties demand timeframe for elections in talks with CA

Staff Correspondent: Most political parties, during a series of exchange meetings with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday, demanded that the interim government arrange the national election within a reasonable timeframe, after promptly completing the necessary state reforms.

They also pledged to fully support the government in overhauling the country’s election system, election commission, and all state organs—including the police, administration, and judiciary—to ensure a credible national election, restore democracy, and prevent autocracy and misrule.

All the political parties also separately submitted their written proposals on state reforms and various demands during the meetings with the Chief Adviser. The top leaders of the parties also briefed the media about the outcomes of their discussions.

Among them, seven Islamic parties said they assured the Chief Adviser of remaining vigilant and taking necessary steps to prevent any untoward incidents during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations of the Hindu community.

The Chief Adviser began a series of view-exchange meetings with an initial meeting with six Islamic parties at the state guest house Jamuna.

Law adviser Asif Nazrul, Industries adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Religious affairs adviser AFM Khalid Hossain AFM Khalid Hossain and Chief Adviser’s special assistant Mahfuz Alam were present at the meeting.

Senior leaders from the parties—Khelafat Majlish, Nizam-e-Islam, Hefazat-e-Islam, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Andolon, and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam—arrived at Jamuna at 3 p.m. and engaged in a one-hour meeting with the head of the interim government.

Following this, the leaders of Islami Andolon met with the Chief Adviser at 4 p.m. Subsequently, top leaders from several other parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, the 12-party alliance, Bangladesh JSD, Gonoforum, and Jatiya Party, also held discussions with the Chief Adviser. These discussions continued until 8 p.m.

Talking to journalists, LDP Chairman Oli Ahmed said they informed the Chief Adviser that the only way to keep political parties engaged is by providing a clear roadmap or forecast for the elections.

“This roadmap could span six months or nine months. We have emphasized that elections should be held as soon as possible after the necessary reforms are completed. The elections must take place, and the sooner they do, the better it will be for the interim government, the political parties, and the country,” he said.

However, Oli stressed that elections should not be conducted before completing essential reforms needed to restore peace, good governance, and democracy. “Reforms must be completed first. We need to restore humanity among the people of the country.”

He also mentioned that the government could hold elections to local government bodies before the national elections to keep the political parties busy.

When asked about the Chief Adviser’s response to the LDP’s statements on the election, he said, “The Chief Adviser emphasized that unity among political parties is crucial on every issue. If I head north and you go south, the country’s problems won’t be resolved. A consensus must be reached by all parties.”

The LDP leader also noted that they had submitted an 83-point proposal on state reforms to the Chief Adviser.

He said they told Dr Yunus that if Jamaat’s registration can be cancelled for minor reasons, then why should the registration of the Awami League, which is responsible for the killing of thousands of students and people and for the disappearance of several thousand opposition leaders and activists over 15 years, not be annulled? It is absolutely necessary to cancel their registration.

Oli said they warned the interim government that more untoward incidents could occur in the coming days.

“I informed the interim government that they are still not out of danger. The conspirators remain active… Those who were loyal to Hasina have not been dismissed, and investigations against them have not started. Simply transferring them from one position to another will not resolve the problems…They are enemies of the country and must be imprisoned,” he observed.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu said they urged the Chief Adviser to implement all necessary reforms in state organs, including the judiciary, police, administration, and constitutional bodies.

“Our chairman told the interim government that it should undertake reforms that an elected government might not address,” he said.

Chunnu also said they urged the Chief Adviser to ensure a balance of power so that the same person cannot hold both the head of government and leader of parliament positions and to prevent anyone from serving as Prime Minister more than twice.

Besides, he said they recommended that the government take steps to improve law and order and keep essential commodities within the public’s purchasing power. “We suggested that the police force should be more proactive.”

The Jatiya Party leader also said they proposed the government focus on completing the reforms demanded by the people and their party before considering the election. “We want to give the government the necessary time to carry out these reforms before holding the election.”

After the six parties’ meeting with the Chief Adviser, Maulana Mamunul Haque, General Secretary of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, said, “We had fruitful discussions. “We have told him (Yunus) to implement the necessary reforms within a reasonable timeframe and avoid unnecessary delays in arranging the elections.”

He said the Chief Adviser also said they will proceed with the elections without delay after the necessary reforms.

Mamunul said the Chief Adviser indicated that preparations and arrangements for this are underway.

 “We did not specify a precise duration for what constitutes a reasonable timeframe. We did not discuss any specific deadlines,” he said.

During the meeting, Mamunul said the Islamic parties assured the interim government of their full cooperation in ensuring the security of temples and puja mandaps during Durga Puja.

He said they demanded the withdrawal of nearly three hundred cases filed against the leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam. “We have requested that these cases be withdrawn as quickly as possible through executive orders and legal processes.”

Mamunul said that leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam were attacked during various movements in 2013, 2016, and 2021 and many of their activists are still missing.

“We have also sought the government’s assistance in identifying all our martyrs and missing persons through a comprehensive report. We have proposed establishing a special tribunal to expedite the trial of these killings,” he said.

Besides, Mamunul said they have demanded that no anti-Islamic policies or laws be enacted in the country.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh chief Syed Rezaul Karim said they urged the Chief Adviser to establish a commission to identify and take action against government officials and journalists who assisted the Awami League government in holding farcical elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024, and in committing various misdeeds over the last 16 years.

“We have recommended overhauling the administration and law enforcement agencies with qualified personnel. We stressed that unless a transparent environment is created, holding elections could replicate the same problematic conditions as before. Therefore, we urged the Chief Adviser to ensure that a proper environment is established first,” he said.

Rezaul Karim also mentioned their proposal for implementing a proportional representation (PR) system that includes people from all walks of life, professions, and mentalities. “Elections should be conducted proportionately, with parties and symbols involved. The people will vote, and representatives will be elected to Parliament based on the votes each party receives. This approach ensures the involvement of all professions and prevents the creation of discriminatory or anarchic conditions. We have highlighted these points in our proposals.”

On behalf of Islami Andolan, he said they submitted a 13-point demand to the Chief Adviser, which includes establishing an acceptable investigation commission and an independent tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the July massacres and human rights violations.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 due to a student-led mass uprising, the advisory council led by Dr Muhammad Yunus took responsibility for the interim government on August 8.

Earlier on Thursday, a BNP delegation led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul met with the Chief Adviser.

Earlier on August 12, senior leaders of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, CPB led by Shah Alam, Gonotantra Mancha, BJP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, AB Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Democratic Left Alliance and NDM held separate meetings with the Chief Adviser and extended their full support to the interim government.