BNP advocates for election-focused reforms before polls: Mirza Fakhrul

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emphasized that only the necessary election-related reforms should be implemented before the next national polls, while other broader reforms can be addressed by the future parliament after the elections. 

The party made this position clear during a roundtable meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.  

The meeting was held at Hotel InterContinental in Shahbagh at 1 PM, where BNP was represented by its Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed. Leaders of the National Consensus Commission and various political parties also participated in the discussion.  

After the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul told reporters that BNP had briefed the UN Secretary-General on the ongoing reform initiatives and the party’s stance on election-focused changes.  

When asked if António Guterres had given any remarks regarding the reform agenda, Mirza Fakhrul said,  "The UN Secretary-General did not make any comments on this matter, as it is an internal issue of our country."  

He added that BNP’s legal advisor Asif Nazrul had briefed Guterres on the reform commissions and their objectives. BNP reiterated its long-standing position that election-related reforms should be completed as soon as possible, followed by immediate elections, and further reforms could be undertaken by the next parliament.  

"Reforms are necessary, and BNP has always been at the forefront in advocating for them. However, the key election-related reforms must be implemented swiftly, so elections can be held without delay. Broader reforms should be addressed through the next parliament, as reforms are an ongoing process," Mirza Fakhrul explained.  
When asked if BNP had provided a proposed timeline for the elections, Mirza Fakhrul responded,  
"Why would we present a timeline to the UN Secretary-General? Reforms are our internal matter. We are in discussions with the reform commissions and are fully engaged in the process. A meeting has already taken place with them."  

The round-table was attended by several political leaders, including: Jamaat-e-Islami: Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Secretary-General Mia Ghulam Parwar; National Consensus Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam; Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party): General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad; Nagarik Oikya: President Mahmudur Rahman Manna  

BNP reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections by implementing crucial electoral reforms, while pushing for further changes through a parliamentary process post-election.