Not possible to participate in election under this administration as it is taking BNP's side: NCP chief Nahid

The administration of the interim government is working in favour of the BNP in many areas, National Citizen Party  (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam said today (16 April).

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nicole Chulick, Nahid said, "We see the administration taking the side of the BNP in various places. The administration is also playing a silent role regarding the ongoing extortion at the field level. We have said that if there is such an administration, it is not possible to hold elections under it."

"We have to ensure a neutral administration, police, and bureaucracy for a level playing field.," he added.

He also said the NCP will have to consider whether it takes part in the election or not depending on whether the fundamental reforms are done.

"We have told US diplomats that if the elections are held without fundamental reforms, those elections will not be acceptable." 

He further said, "We are working on our agendas. At present, the field administration is not working impartially. Attacks are being carried out on the leaders and activists of the NCP in various places. The administration is playing a silent role there. We have discussed these issues."

Nahid further said the US diplomats' main focus was on the current political situation, reform activities and elections.

"They [US team] were also interested in the security of minorities and the direction of future politics in Bangladesh and the process of party formation, organisational activities, ideology, etc., in our politics. We explained these from our perspective," he said.

The NCP chief said they have clearly stated their three demands – justice, reform, and the Constituent Assembly elections – to the US team.

"We have said that we are working not for minimal reforms, but for fundamental reforms, for a qualitative change in the state. If we go to the elections without any kind of change, those elections will not be acceptable," he said.

Also speaking after the meeting, NCP's Senior Joint Convenor Samantha Sharmin told The Business Standard that her party's stance on the election remains unchanged.

"We expect elections within the December to June timeline announced by the chief adviser. In the meantime, justice and reforms must be properly done. The July Charter must be implemented," she said.

"We are demanding a parliamentary election that will have the obligation to formulate a constitution. That is, it will work as a Constituent Assembly and will later be considered as a national parliament," she added.

The politician also said that other political parties are repeatedly changing their positions on the elections. "The BNP initially did not object to the elections being held by June, but now they want elections by December. Again, the Jamaat gave their new statement on the elections."

Earlier in the day, the BNP, after a meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, said they were not at all satisfied with the interim government's election roadmap of holding polls between December 2025 and June 2026.

"The CA did not give a deadline; he said polls would be held between December and June. We are not satisfied with that," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters.