BNP on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction as Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus reiterated that the national election will be held in between December and June next.“We are not satisfied at all, we have clearly said if the election is not held by December they country’s political and social situation will deteriorate further and it will be very difficult to bring under control,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said emerging from the meeting with the Chief Adviser at the state guest house Jamuna.He also voiced frustration as the chief adviser did not give them any specific deadline for the election. 

“He (CA) said again today (Wednesday) that he wants to hold the election in between December and June. We have told him that December is our cut-off time for the election,” the BNP leader said.

A seven-member BNP delegation led by Fakhrul Islam Alamgir held the meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at the state house Jamuna to press for a specific roadmap to hold the national election by December this year.

The meeting, which lasted for nearly one hour and 45 minutes, began at 12:10pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

The delegation also included BNP Standing Committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdury, Salahuddin Ahmed and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Chowdury.

When asked about the BNP's strategy following the disappointing meeting with the Chief Adviser, Fakhrul said the party would decide its next steps after holding discussions internally and with its like-minded allies.

In response to a question on whether the government was attempting to prolong its stay in power by pushing back the election timeline, the BNP leader said the chief adviser mentioned a timeframe between December and June for holding the election. 

“He didn't say it wouldn't be held in December. He kept the window open until June. But we have said December is our cut-off time,” Fakhrul said.

He said the main focus of their discussions with the Chief Adviser was on a clear and specific roadmap for the upcoming national election.

Considering the current situation in the country, Fakhrul said their party firmly believes that a credible and widely acceptable election must be held soon to resolve the ongoing political and national crises.

He said the BNP is fully cooperating with the government-initiated reform commissions currently in place.

The BNP leader said their party submitted its opinions and recommendations to the Consensus Commission a few days back and is scheduled to hold another meeting with the body on Thursday. 

Fakhrul said the BNP is open to preparing a charter based on consensus among all parties. “Once such consensus is reached and the charter is formulated, we can move forward with the election and the reforms.”

He said any agreed reforms would be implemented by the elected representatives of the respective political parties in the next government. “This is the core position of the BNP.”

Earlier, on 10 February, a BNP delegation led by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir held a meeting with the Chief Adviser. During the discussion, the chief adviser reportedly informed the team that preparations were in progress to hold the national election by December next.