Does framing election demands as a ‘single party narrative’ reflect ground realities?

While speaking at the 30th Nikkei Forum in Tokyo, Japan on 29 May, Chief Adviser Dr Yunus claimed that only one political party in Bangladesh is demanding elections by December 2025. 

As the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been the most vocal in pushing this demand, it is clear that he was referring to them. However, is the BNP truly alone in making this demand?

Prior to his Japan visit, a total of 20 parties met the chief adviser in Jamuna on 24 and 25 May following rumours of him considering resignation.

Over time, the parties have clarified their stance on whether they want elections by December 2025. Of the 20 parties that met with Dr Yunus, 12 support holding elections within that time frame.

Are these parties too confident in the upcoming elections? How did they perform in the 2008 general elections, which are widely regarded as the most free and fair in the country's recent political history?

In 2008, BNP secured 32.5% of the vote in that election and remains the country's largest political party. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which secured just 0.27% of the vote, and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), with 0.72%, have also echoed the same demand. 

In contrast, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which received 4.7% of the vote in 2008, does not want elections before reforms and July Uprising trials are carried out.

Among the smaller parties, the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and several other leftist groups have also echoed the need for a time-bound resolution and fresh elections. 

In response to Dr Yunus' claim, the BNP, rather than retreating, appears to be doubling down on its demand for elections. 

Its grassroots units remain active, even under duress, organising protests, human chains, and press briefings to build pressure. Moreover, the acting chairman Tarique Rahman's messages from London made it very clear that BNP is aiming for an election this December. 

Dr Abdul Latif Masum, retired professor of the Department of Government and Politics, Jahangirnagar University, said, "The party Dr Yunus is talking about represents the majority of the population of the country directly or indirectly. It will open paths for more confrontation, and it will be very unfortunate for the country." 

Meanwhile, Dr Asif M Shahan, associate professor in the Department of Development Studies at Dhaka University, believes that during a negotiation, antagonising the largest party will only make things more difficult.

"A number of other parties are also asking for an election, so I do not think the claim [only one party wants early elections] itself is factually correct. Everyone is trying to negotiate. Identifying and singling out one party is supposed to affect the discussions quite negatively," he said.

Civil society in Bangladesh is also not monolithic in its views. Although fragmented, many voices within the academic, legal and journalistic communities continue to question the legitimacy of the political process. 

Independent reports, editorials and opinion pieces frequently point out the democratic backslide and the urgent need for electoral correction. To portray this widespread discontent as the agenda of one political group is to ignore the undercurrents of public dissatisfaction.

Discontent among young voters, particularly over issues like unemployment, corruption, and civil liberties, often finds expression in support for opposition narratives. While these groups may not always align formally with the BNP, their political inclinations are clear. Labelling them all as pro-BNP is highly misleading, denying their separate agency and democratic aspirations. 

Dr Masum said, "I see no reason for not declaring a roadmap for the election. It is only six months from December to June, not six years that it would require a mammoth planning. The people need to have a clear idea about the election."  

Mubashar Hasan, a Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo, Norway, and Executive Director, the Sydney Policy and Analysis Centre, said, "Dr Yunus' comment is counterproductive from a trust-building point of view for the political stakeholders. He has commented on such a context where there is a trust deficit. That is why we see the BNP and the Army Chief asking for an election in December. It is a rhetoric which reflects the lack of trust. Dr Yunus is increasingly seeming to be representative of the students-led party, NCP, rather than being a guardian of all parties. 

"The comment was obviously not correct, and it sends a message that he is probably not that friendly to the BNP, which may not be the message we want to be conveyed," he added. 

"If the government wants to pressurise BNP into accepting an election in June, they will need to have enough power at their disposal. If the government does not have it, pressuring BNP will only make things more confrontational. Then, even if the government wants an election in February or March, BNP may not budge," Dr Shahan noted.