The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called on the country’s interim government to hold parliamentary elections no later than July or August 2025, underscoring its view that a delay would deepen political and economic instability. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir articulated this stance during a January 14 press briefing at the party chairperson’s office in Dhaka’s Gulshan district, Prothom Alo reported.

Alamgir emphasised the necessity of timely elections for restoring democratic governance, describing them as "indispensable for democracy" and achievable within the mid-2025 timeframe. The appeal follows a BNP national standing committee meeting on January 13, which saw the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, participate virtually. The BNP’s concerns come in response to comments from the chief adviser to the interim government, who suggested elections could be delayed until late 2025 or mid-2026.

Alamgir argued that, with the election commission operational and reports from reform commissions imminent, there is no justification for postponing the vote. "Prolonging the process will exacerbate the country’s challenges," he said.

He also dismissed the possibility of local government elections taking precedence over parliamentary polls, reiterating that the nation’s focus must remain on resolving the overarching political crisis through national elections. "The crisis lies in the absence of an elected government at the parliamentary level," Alamgir stated, underscoring that local polls are not the priority. The BNP’s demand comes amid heightened political tension in Bangladesh, as the timing and transparency of the upcoming elections will play a critical role in shaping the country’s political future.