Dhaka
Political tensions rose in Bangladesh after Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus made controversial remarks about the national election. During a visit to Japan, Yunus claimed that “no one except one party” wants elections in December. His comment sparked backlash from several political groups back home.
Parties like Gono Forum, the Left Democratic Alliance, and the 12-Party Alliance strongly rejected Yunus’ claim. They called his statement “false, misleading, and harmful” to the political climate. In a joint statement, they accused a government-supported new party and extremist groups of trying to disrupt the election process and create chaos.
More than 50 political parties, both registered and unregistered, have demanded elections by December. Gono Forum said Yunus’ remarks were causing confusion and conflict. They also criticized the interim government for not taking any effective steps to restore law and order or make real reforms during the last nine months.
The 12-Party Alliance accused Yunus of using political tricks to extend his power. They also said he is working with unpopular and anti-liberation groups. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) warned it will launch street protests in July if no election plan is announced soon.
BNP leader Mirza Abbas described the interim government as “rotten from head to toe” and urged it to resign. Meanwhile, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman stressed that the election must be held by December and a new government should take over by January 2026.
Calls for restoring democracy are growing louder across the country.