Convener of Jatiya Nagorik Party Nahid Islam said the interim government has failed to ensure law and order fully in the country and it is difficult to hold National Election this year.
Nahid also former adviser to the government made the remark in an interview with Reuters.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in August last year following student-led protests.
A transitional government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was then formed, which recently said that elections might take place in late 2025.
Nahid Islam was a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement during the protests and later joined the interim government as an adviser. After resigning, he took leadership of the newly formed National Citizens' Party (NCP).
Speaking to Reuters, Nahid said, "Over the past seven months, we all expected short-term reforms to stabilize law enforcement and security. While some improvements have been made, they did not meet our expectations."
In his first interview as NCP chief, the 26-year-old politician stated, "Given the current law enforcement situation, I don’t think holding a national election is feasible."
Nahid is the first politician to publicly express doubts about the interim government’s election timeline. Political analysts believe his party could bring significant changes to national politics, where Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s BNP have long been dominant.
Several political parties in Bangladesh are demanding early elections, arguing that power should be returned to a democratically elected government. The country has witnessed ongoing unrest, including attacks on symbols of the previous government, student clashes, and incidents targeting Hindu and other minority communities. However, the interim administration has dismissed these reports as exaggerated.
Nahid’s NCP was formed last week. On election participation, he said, "Whenever the election takes place, our party will be ready."
He also emphasized the importance of reaching a consensus on the "July Revolution Manifesto" before the election. The interim government plans to draft this document through discussions with political parties and student leaders. The manifesto will reflect the aspirations of the people and honor the 1,000 lives lost in last year's July-August violence. After the government announced this initiative, students withdrew their demand for constitutional changes.
"If we can reach an agreement within a month, elections can be held sooner. But if more time is needed, the election should be delayed," Nahid added.
He further said that several wealthy individuals are financially supporting NCP. The party plans to establish a new office soon and launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise election funds.
BDST: 2058 HRS, March 06, 2025
MSK
