BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed. File Photo

DHAKA, June 16, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has urged the interim government to inform Election Commission (EC) soon about the decision of holding the next parliamentary elections in February. 

The BNP leader made call here today at a discussion where he referred to the meeting held between Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London on Friday.

Salahuddin came up with this opinion as his attention was drawn following a remark of Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin about the possibility of holding the next general election in February.

"I hope the decision that was made during the discussion in London will be communicated to the EC very soon through due process so that the Election Commission can tell the public that they have received a directive from the government in this regard,” he said. 

The senior BNP leader also said, "I will tell the interim government that you will take such a program so that we can go to democratic transformation very soon for the sake of the people and the democracy."

In the meeting with BNP leader Tarique Rahman in London, the Chief Adviser opined that the vote could be held before the start of Ramadan in February next if there is sufficient progress on reforms and justice.

Taking part in the discussion, Salahuddin Ahmed also opined that the interim government needs to be ratified by the elected parliament.   

“The advisory council of the interim government has been formed as per the Constitution. So, it has constitutional legitimacy. The council has been formed according to the advisory rule of the Supreme Court as per Article 106 of the Constitution. Since then the constitution is in force,” he added.

He said, “This government is running constitutionally… As the constitution says, advisers will enjoy the status of ministers and I will ask the advisory council to keep in mind all the qualifications to be a member of parliament as per Article 66 to become a minister,” he said.

“But the issue of foreign citizenship has not been approved there and there are many other issues,” he continued. 

He also said, “Constitutionally, this government will need ratification in the next parliament… you (interim government) will keep this in mind. If ratification is required, how this legitimacy will be given, where it will be given…we should also consider that.”

Nagorik Oikya organized the discussion styled “Current Political Situation and National Budget FY 2025-26 in the Vision of a Welfare State' at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) here. 

With Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna in the chair, General Secretary of Biplobi Workers Party of Bangladesh Saiful Haque, President of Bhashani Janashakti Party Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, President of AB Party Mojibur Rahman Monju, Executive Coordinator of the Gonosanghoti Andolon  Abul Hasan Rubel  and General Secretary of Nagorik Oikya Shahidullah Kaiser took part in the discussion, among others.