Staff Correspondent

BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday alleged that those advocating for a proportional representation (PR) system and prioritising local government elections may have intentions to delay or obstruct the upcoming national election.

“Those who are talking about a proportional election system have a motive. Those who want local government elections before the national election also have a motive. Either they want the election to be delayed, or they want no election at all in Bangladesh. This could be their intention,” he said.

Salahuddin made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a memorial publication event on martyred President Ziaur Rahman and an archive unveiling programme organised by the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN) at the International Mother Language Institute Auditorium.

The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh are united in their demand for the national election to be held in early February next year.

“All the democratic people of this country have not struggled for local government elections. We have fought for 17 years for a free, fair and neutral national election. We have lost countless lives to establish our right to vote,” he said.

Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee Member, said the sacrifice of blood made by martyrs during the student-led mass uprising reflects the desire for a truly democratic state in this country. “We will certainly be able to build that democratic state if a political government is established through a free and fair national election,” he added.

He said a consensus proposal has been made through a joint statement to hold the national election in the week before Ramadan begins and in the first half of February 2026, following discussions in London between Chief Advisor Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

“It will only be effective when the Chief Adviser conveys the message and instructions to the Election Commission through the appropriate process in this regard…When the Chief Adviser’s Office, the Election Commission, or both together inform the nation, only then will we be truly assured that the election will be held at that time,” the BNP leader said.