DHAKA: Thousands of activists and leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) gathered on Tuesday to demand a democratic transition through new elections, as the interim government has yet to provide a clear timeline for voting.
The demonstrators assembled outside the BNP headquarters, chanting slogans for a prompt election.
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has introduced several reform plans affecting various sectors, including the Election Commission and financial institutions. However, major political parties, including the BNP under former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, are pressing for elections to be scheduled soon.
Yunus assumed leadership after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amidst a mass uprising last month, ending a 15-year tenure. Since then, protests have evolved into a broader anti-government movement, with Hasina residing in India.
Yunus has not yet specified a timeframe for national elections, stating that the interim government will remain in power as long as deemed necessary by the public. Recent discussions have suggested that Yunus should focus on essential reforms and potentially remain in power for at least two years.
Initially, the BNP demanded an election within three months but later adjusted its stance, allowing time for the interim government to implement reforms. The Jamaat-e-Islami party, a former ally of Zia’s party, also supports giving the Yunus-led government more time before elections.
BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, who is in exile in London, expressed support for the interim government’s reform plans but emphasized that any changes should be endorsed by the next parliament. He did not specify a date for the elections.
In a separate development, a Dhaka court has permitted interrogators to question two senior journalists, Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagoj, and Mozammel Babu, managing director of Ekattor TV, who are facing murder charges related to student-led protests. The journalists were arrested on Monday as they reportedly attempted to flee to India. Both are known to have been close to the ousted Hasina.
More than 150 journalists have faced legal charges since Hasina’s departure, drawing criticism from organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Human Rights Watch. RSF has condemned the legal actions against journalists, describing them as a part of a broader campaign of vengeance against those associated with the former government.
RSF’s Antoine Bernard urged the interim authorities, led by Yunus, to end the crackdown on media professionals, asserting that it harms the image of Bangladesh’s political transition.
