CA’s statement on only 1 party seeking Dec polls: Several others reject claim, demand elections first

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's recent statement that only one party wants the national election in December has kicked off a firestorm, beginning with the BNP rubbishing the claim. 

This was followed by several other parties, who have also publicly stated their support for holding the national polls this year.

The Left Democratic Alliance, 12-party Alliance, and Gono Forum are among those parties that have also made it clear that the demand is widely shared among parties and not limited to a single group.

It all started at the 30th Nikkei Forum in Tokyo on Thursday (29 May), when addressing the gathering, Yunus said, "There are opinions that let's get the election done, but it is not all, just one particular party."

He added that the polls would be held between December this year and June next year, and the interim government would not remain in place beyond that timeframe.

Reacting to the comment, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas yesterday (30 May) said, "Not one party; everyone wants elections. Only one person does not want elections. That person is Professor Yunus."

Backing BNP, the 12-party alliance, in a statement issued yesterday (30 May), also said all democratic political parties in the country want the upcoming election to be held by December.

Alliance spokesperson Shahadat Hossain Selim confirmed the statement, saying elections open the path to progress and that this demand is not limited to a single party.

Meanwhile, the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a coalition of left-leaning parties, said Yunus' claim was "misleading and purposeful."

In a statement also issued yesterday (30 May), the alliance said over 50 political parties — both registered and unregistered — were demanding elections within December.

Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), told Samakal, "The interim government is delaying the election. More than 50 parties, including the CPB and the Left Alliance, want elections within this year. To resolve the current crisis without further delay, arrangements for elections must be made within this year. The electoral system must be fundamentally reformed."

The Gono Forum, at a Presidium Council meeting yesterday, made a similar demand. 

It said Yunus's statement was not true and reaffirmed its long-standing position that reforms must be completed quickly to allow for elections in December.

Leaders of left-leaning and smaller parties argue that the chief adviser's remarks do not reflect the real positions of most parties.

Bazlur Rashid Firoz, general secretary of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, said the interim government should conduct a fair election within this year and hand over power to elected representatives.

Sharif Nurul Ambia, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, said reforms needed for credible polls do not require a long timeline. He suggested that elections could be held in late November or early December.

Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Biplobi Workers' Party, said Yunus' comments misrepresented the demands of most parties.

"Most political parties, representing a large population, want elections in the shortest possible time," he told Samakal.

On the other hand, several parties have voiced support for the Yunus-led interim government and its plan to carry out reforms before holding elections.

At a meeting on 22 May, five parties — including the National Citizen Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Jamaat-e-Islami — expressed their willingness to back the interim government in completing reform work before polls.

According to a Samakal report, an adviser to the government, speaking anonymously, claimed that only the BNP is insisting on December polls while ignoring the need for reforms.

"The government's responsibility is not just elections. It is also reform and justice," the adviser said.