Announce election date without ‘muddling’ the situation, Tarique tells government

He says the lack of clarity from the interim government is likely “contributing “to political unrest

BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has urged the interim government to announce a specific date for the general election without “unnecessarily muddling” the situation.

Speaking virtually from London at an event on Saturday night, he said: “It will not be easy to confront the fallen fugitive dictator unless a government accountable to the people through their vote is established.”

Tarique expressed hope that the caretaker administration, “free from greed and temptation”, would fulfil its duty by promptly announcing the national election date and upholding the rights of the people of Bangladesh.

He criticised the government for failing to respond to repeated calls from political parties, including the BNP, for an election roadmap.

“Instead, the government seems to have trapped the clear announcement of the election date behind a clever condition of minor or major reforms,” Tarique said.

“The public remains unaware of the interim government’s plans, which is likely contributing to growing political unrest,” he added.

The BNP leader pointed to visible signs of instability both inside and outside the government, just 10 months into its tenure. “We’re seeing people from different walks of life gathering on the streets with several demands every day.”

He warned that if the government fails to recognise and respond to the people’s hopes and demands, the unrest will deepen, making governance increasingly challenging.

“We call on the interim government to be cautious about its capabilities,” he said.