BNP's Salahuddin warns of security risks if polls miss February deadline

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed today (14 September) warned that failure to hold the next national election within the announced February timeline could pose national and regional security threats.

"Please find a fully implementable process. You have already taken opinions from many experts. If you feel any of their suggestions are appropriate and decide to implement them, you are at liberty …we will have no objection," he told Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

Speaking at the National Consensus Building Commission meeting at the Foreign Service Academy, in the presence of the chief adviser, the BNP leader also urged Yunus to seek opinions from the judiciary if he thinks it necessary.

He emphasised that while political and constitutional reforms should be continuous — and that judicial processes should not be time-limited lest they result in injustice — the election itself cannot be conditioned.

"Reform will continue, whatever government comes," he said. "But you cannot make the election conditional. If the election in February is not held, that could be a threat to regional security."

On preserving a united, anti-fascist national front and turning that unity into political strength, Salahuddin said the BNP is prepared to compromise and negotiate. "If a method can be found through talks, we will agree."

He described the draft July Charter as containing a few clerical mistakes and some confusing wording, but nothing major — and said those can be corrected.

Salahuddin underlined the importance of precision in what he called a national, political and historic document. "Topics that have not been discussed should not be included in it. The fewer controversies, the better," he said.

Reflecting on the past 15 years under the Awami League government, he said the BNP has been the principal victim of injustice — citing disappearances, killings and torture — and reiterated the party's commitment to the rule of law. "Justice will continue — that is our commitment, the nation's commitment. But the election must not be made conditional."

On constitutional reform, Salahuddin said 19 fundamental issues have been identified and that, in total, the party received 826 reform proposals.

"We discussed them within the party and submitted written views. We disagreed on only 51 proposals," he said, noting that they suggested acceptance with reservations on 115 other proposals. He estimated near-final agreement on the package and said altogether 845 reform proposals were raised around the core issues.

He warned against leaving unresolved matters that might later become challenges, and urged that agreed items be implemented. "We do not want to leave anything that will not hold after two days and become a challenge. The things we have agreed on will be implemented."