Election date, process to be announced within 4-5 days: CA tells 14 party leaders
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has stated that the election date and roadmap will be announced within the next four to five days, Head of the 12-party alliance Mostafa Jamal Haider quoted him as saying.
"Nothing could be more joyous than this," he said, following the CA's meeting with leaders of 14 political parties today (26 July) at the State Guesthouse Jamuna.
He said holding a national election is the only practical way to resolve the current political turmoil in the country.
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"Many problems will be addressed through the election. It will help bring an end to the ongoing unrest.
Haider also said the chief adviser made it clear during the meeting that elections are the only way forward to restore order.
"He assured us that a specific election date will be announced within the next four to five days."
He said they told the chief adviser that the political parties would not allow any opportunity for the return of the fascist force that was overthrown last year through a mass uprising.
Haider, who also leads the 12-party alliance, a key ally of the BNP, said their main objective is now to restore the people's democratic rights and form a democratic government through a national election which will pave the way for eliminating fascist forces through united efforts.
Also read: CA will soon make formal announcement on election to eliminate all ambiguity: Fakhrul
The political leaders attending the discussion include Aminul Haque Tipu Biswas of the National People's Front; Mostafa Jamal Haider from the 12-party alliance; Maulana Abdul Majed Athari of the Nizam-e-Islam Party; Maulana Yusuf Ashraf of the Khelafat Majlis; Fariduzzaman Farhad, Chairman of the NPP; Syed Ehsanul Huda, Chairman of the Bangladesh Jatiya Dal; Mushtaq Hossain of JaSaD; Bobby Hajjaj of the Nationalist Democratic Movement; Shamim Haider, Secretary General of the Zaker Party; Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Raji, Secretary General of the Islami Oikya Jote; Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Chairman of the Bhasani Janashakti Party; Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Chairman of the Bangladesh Labour Party; Masud Rana, Coordinator of Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist); and Manjurul Islam Afandi of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam.
Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam's Manjurul said, "The chief adviser spoke to us about various crises and emphasised the need for unity.
"He said they want to move towards elections shortly."
He added that some party leaders considered the order of dialogue participation as discriminatory.
"We also expressed our objection to the opening of a UN human rights office. He listened to our concerns."
Also present at the meeting, NPP's Fariduzzaman Farhad, said, "The chief adviser said, InshaAllah, the election date will be announced very soon. We responded by saying Alhamdulillah."
CA calls for unity to resist any attempt to derail elections
Yunus has called on democratic forces to remain united to resist conspiracies by defeated forces working to create unrest and sabotage the upcoming elections.
"If all pro-democracy forces fail to come together and ensure a proper election, we will lose this crucial opportunity," he said.
He stated that the defeated forces repeatedly try to create chaos whenever they get the chance, thereby severely disrupting the country's progress.
"Every time we move forward with election preparations, new conspiracies emerge.
"But the reality is that no conspiracy can obstruct democratic progress, because there is clear unity among democratic forces on resisting fascism," the chief adviser added.
He expressed hope for cooperation from all political parties in organising a fair election.
In response, political leaders present at the meeting assured the chief adviser of their full cooperation.
The meeting began with a minute of silence and prayer in memory of the victims of the recent jet crash into the Milestone School and College.
Earlier on 22 July, CA met with representatives from four political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizens Party (NCP), and Islami Andolan Bangladesh.
The following day, he held a meeting with leaders of 13 political parties and alliances.
