With the interim administration appearing reluctant to announce a clear roadmap for holding national elections by December, Bangladesh’s largest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is considering launching street protests to pressure the government.
At a meeting of its standing committee, the party’s highest policy-making body, held Monday night, senior leaders reportedly expressed concern that a conspiracy was underway within the interim administration to delay elections.
Party insiders say some advisers to interim head and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus are allegedly working to prolong the tenure of the unelected government.
While the committee did not finalise the form of upcoming protests, its student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, has already taken to the streets demanding justice for the killing of one of its leaders. Another BNP-aligned group, Amra Dhakabasi, has staged demonstrations outside Dhaka South City Corporation’s Nagar Bhaban, demanding the reinstatement of Ishraq Hossain as mayor.
“We are planning street actions to compel the government to declare an election road-map, though the specific mode of protest has yet to be finalised,” said a senior BNP leader.
The BNP, which now dubbed to be the largest political party in the absence of the Awami League, banned from political activities after its ouster, is urging the interim government to set a clear timeline for elections.
However, the government, led by Yunus since Sheikh Hasina’s removal through a mass uprising last year, has vaguely indicated that elections may take place between December 2025 and June 2026.
BNP leaders believe a fair and impartial election is their path back to power.
Despite previous street movements against the Awami League, which ruled for 15 consecutive years amid allegations of vote rigging and repression, the BNP failed to regain power after losing the 2008 election under a quasi-military-backed caretaker government.
Party leaders have expressed skepticism over the government’s reform agenda, branding the proposed election timeline as vague and evasive.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that infiltrators within the government are conspiring to mislead the nation and delay the electoral process.
“A well-orchestrated conspiracy is underway to obstruct the people’s right to vote,” Fakhrul said during a virtual meeting from Thailand on Tuesday.
According to insiders, BNP suspects that certain groups are being encouraged by elements within the government to stage disruptive protests over minor issues, possibly to distract from the election demand.
They fear this could destabilise the democratic process and pave the way for former Awami League actors to re-enter politics under new banners.
Taking these concerns into account, BNP intends to escalate pressure on the government for a concrete election schedule. Since the formation of the interim administration, the party has refrained from direct confrontation, hoping for a dignified exit of Muhammad Yunus after polls.
Citing recent unrest near the Chief Adviser’s official residence Jamuna, a BNP leader warned of potential mass demonstrations in strategic areas like Shahbagh, Banglamotor, Moghbazar, Shantinagar, and Matsya Bhaban.
“We don’t want to resort to that just yet. We hope to bid farewell to Yunus respectfully,” he said.
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan also accused unnamed political and social forces of attempting to derail the democratic process for personal gain.
“Certain quarters are trying to delay elections to serve their own agendas,” he said at a party event Tuesday.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi accused the interim government of adopting evasive tactics similar to the former Hasina administration.
“They are neglecting their primary responsibility and busy otherwise. If they were sincere, the election date would already be announced,” Rizvi said.