Strengthening its position in favour of holding a fair national election by 2025, BNP has conveyed a strong message to its alliance partners that they and the people of the country will not accept any conspiracy to manipulate the polls by forming a ‘puppet’ political party.

The party communicated its message through three separate meetings on Saturday with the 12-Party Alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, and the Labour Party at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, securing their full support for its position.

Talking to UNB, senior leaders of BNP and its allied parties expressed doubts about the interim government’s intentions following the Chief Adviser’s sudden announcement of an unclear election roadmap on December 16, without prior consultation with political parties amid efforts to form a new political party, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, which seems to be backed by the state and supported by certain advisers.

They also suspected that the government is deliberately avoiding a clear election timeline only to delay the polls under the pretext of reforms, with the primary aim of giving student leaders—who led the Anti-Discrimination Movement in July-August—time and space to organise their new party for the election.

The top political leaders also said two student leaders, inducted into the advisory council, are unethically supporting other student leaders in forming the new party.

They also claimed that other leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Movement, including Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah, are getting state backing for their efforts to form the party.

They feared that if the new party was formed with state backing, it could attempt to manipulate the upcoming election with the government's support, potentially triggering a fresh crisis in the country amid various plots against the nation.

The political leaders, however, said they do not want to create any distance with the government at this stage. Instead, they plan to persuade the government to hold the election by September or October next year and to refrain from assisting anyone in forming new parties.

Contacted by UNB, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote Chief Fariduzzaman Farhad said during the meeting with BNP leaders, various issues were discussed, with a particular focus on the election and the students' efforts to form a political party with state patronage.

attended their programme."

Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said the student leaders are using government officials, such as DCs, SPs, and OCs, to organise various meetings aimed at preparing for the formation of a political party.

“The students can form a party, but it should be done independently, without any government backing. If they continue their efforts to launch the party with state support, they will provoke the politicians,” Iran said.

He said they will seek a meeting with the Chief Adviser to share their concerns and urge the government not to take any steps that would erode the confidence of political parties and the people.

BNP Standing Committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said, “We have no objection if anyone launches a political party. But we do object if a party is formed under the patronage of the interim government and the state. We also oppose any delay in the election simply to give a party space to organise under the pretext of reforms."

He said the people would not accept a puppet party formed with the backing of the interim government.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said if any political party is formed under state patronage, the credibility of the interim government will be lost.

“It is acceptable if a new party is formed by others, especially those involved in the anti-discrimination movement, as we move toward democracy. But it should not be a King's party,” he observed.

Rizvi said they have heard that councillors from the dissolved city corporations and municipalities would be inducted into the Jatiya Nagorik Committee to help organise the party. "If this happens, it will send a very negative message to the public.”