BNP’s Salahuddin Ahmed criticizes Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus for vague election timelines and demands a specific roadmap. Meanwhile, a Dhaka court issues arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and others over alleged Purbachal corruption. Political tension rises amid calls for democratic restoration and accountability.
Senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday raised concerns over Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus’s inconsistent statements regarding the timing of the upcoming national election, questioning the motives behind such ambiguity.
Speaking at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka, Salahuddin criticized Dr Yunus for repeatedly referring to vague timelines—such as “December” or “June”—without offering a specific and actionable election roadmap.
“Why can’t you settle down on one timeline? You are a world-famous and respected person. Such shifting won’t be well received nationally and internationally,” said Salahuddin, who is a Standing Committee member of BNP.
He added that during BNP’s last meeting with Dr Yunus, the Chief Adviser had promised to hold national elections by December 2025. However, Salahuddin noted that the Election Commission had informed BNP of its readiness to conduct the election as early as June, raising questions about the government’s actual intent.
Calling for swift and transparent action, Salahuddin urged the Yunus-led administration to take necessary steps toward restoring a democratically elected government. “Several thousand people were martyred to regain the right to vote and ensure democratic and constitutional governance. Fascism collapsed under mass movements. By denying the election, whom are you serving? Which unconstitutional force is benefiting from this delay?” he questioned.
In a significant parallel development, a Dhaka court on Sunday issued arrest warrants for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and 51 others over alleged corruption in the allocation of plots in the Purbachal New Town Project.
Metropolitan Senior Special Judge of Dhaka, Zakir Hossain Galib, issued the warrants after taking cognisance of the charge sheets filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to the allegations, the ousted former prime minister and her family members clandestinely acquired residential plots from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) in the Purbachal project area.
Both developments signal heightened political tension as the nation awaits clarity on its electoral future and grapples with the implications of high-profile corruption charges.
