Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul today accused the Yunus Administration of creating a situation over the implementation of the July National Charter with the intention of delaying the national election.

Speaking before inaugurating the party’s rally in Dhaka, Fakhrul said the people of Bangladesh will not accept anything other than holding the national election and the referendum on the July Charter on the same day in February next year, reports United News of Bangladesh (UNB).

 

“It is unfortunate that the interim government, which we fully supported, is now itself creating a situation so that the election may be disrupted,” he said.

 

Fakhrul alleged that some political parties advocating for a separate referendum are also conspiring to derail the election process. “If there is a referendum, it must be held on the same day as the election, and that election must take place in February 2026. Otherwise, the people of Bangladesh will not accept anything else,” he cautioned.

 

The BNP leader noted that his party initially supported the interim government when it began working on reforms and drafting the National Charter. “For nearly a year, discussions continued under the National Consensus Commission, where all political parties debated and reached consensus on the Charter. On October 17, the Charter was signed in front of Parliament,” he said.

 

However, Fakhrul accused Consensus Commission Vice Chair Dr Ali Riaz and the Chief Adviser of later introducing new clauses and recommendations that excluded several points agreed during negotiations. “It was agreed that if any party had objections, they would be recorded as dissent notes. But that was not done. We rejected this process and clarified our position publicly,” he said.

 

Fakhrul also criticised a recent announcement from an adviser that political parties would be given seven days to hold further discussions on the Charter, reports UNB. “Then what was the point of seven months of meetings, spending state funds, and signing the Charter in the first place? This approach has only complicated matters,” he said.

 

Additionally, Fakhrul criticised Jamaat-e-Islami and other political groups pressing for the referendum to be held before the general election.  “We agreed to a referendum, but it must coincide with the election. Holding two separate votes will unnecessarily increase costs and risk disrupting the main electoral process,” the BNP leader added.