BNP satisfied with Yunus-Tarique meeting outcome: Khasru

The BNP is satisfied with the outcome of the much-awaited meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London today (13 June).

The party's Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, who attended the meeting, made the remark at a press briefing after the one-and-a-half-hour meeting at The Dorchester hotel in London.

During the meeting, Yunus and Tarique agreed to the possibility that the next national election can be held in February next year before Ramadan if all necessary preparations are complete.

Talking to reporters, Khasru called on all political parties to join hands in building the new Bangladesh. "We must work together with all parties to build a new Bangladesh, not only before the elections, but also after the elections."

During the meeting, Tarique, the acting chief of the country's largest political party, asked Yunus to hold the elections before Ramadan next year, which is likely to start on 17 February -- subject to lunar sighting.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also believes that it would be better if the elections were held during that time, Tarique told Yunus at the meeting, said National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman during the press briefing.

The interim government chief responded positively to Tarique's proposal.

Stating that he had announced that the elections would be held by the first half of April next year, Yunus said, "If all preparations are completed, the elections could be held in the week before the start of Ramadan in 2026.

"In that case, it would be necessary to achieve sufficient progress on reforms and justice by that time."

The meeting began at The Dorchester, where Yunus is staying during his four-day trip to the UK, at 2pm Bangladesh time and continued till 3:30pm.

Khalilur and CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam received Tarique upon his arrival at the hotel around 1:50pm.

BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said Tarique, accompanied by Amir Khasru and International Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, left his London residence around 1pm for the meeting venue.

Earlier in the day, the BNP Media Cell in a post on Facebook dubbed the meeting between Yunus and Tarique "historic".

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were also present at the meeting.

Earlier on 6 June, CA Yunus announced that the national election will be held any day in the first half of April 2026. 

"Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide a detailed roadmap for the elections at an appropriate time," he said in a televised address to the nation on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha.

"I have repeatedly said this election will be held between December and June next year. The government is doing everything necessary to create an environment conducive to elections in the country during this period," he said.

The BNP, which has consistently demanded that the next national election be held by December this year, and several parties reacted with frustration, calling the decision unilateral and impractical.

BNP has since been vocal in urging the government to reconsider.