DHAKA: At least 20 political parties, including former PM Khaleda Zia’s BNP, Monday rejected Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’s extended time frame for conducting national election, demanding it be held by Dec.Sources, however, said three political parties, including the radical Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP launched by Nahid Islam who led the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement last year, are reportedly supporting Yunus’s time frame of holding the poll between Dec 2025 and June 2026. “There is not a single valid reason to push the national election after Dec and BNP expects a ‘neutral role’ from Muhammad Yunus in taking a final decision,” BNP member Salahuddin Ahmed said after the National Consensus Commission dialogue with Yunus.
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This was the second round of talks between political parties and the Yunus-headed interim govt on the election – pending since last year following the fall of the Hasina-led govt.In Monday’s meeting, all but three political parties have demanded elections by Dec, Gono Odhikar Parishad chief Nurul Haque Nur said.Yunus expressed optimism about finalising a broadly accepted ‘July Charter’ – an agreement built through collective understanding among parties after the ouster of the Hasina govt. Salahuddin hoped Yunus will consider Dec for conducting the election. He also argued the commission has already taken significant time and election before year-end remains feasible. “Full consensus may not be possible…We’ll support reforms that benefit the nation and ensure inclusion of all,” he added.