Thousands of activists and leaders from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party gathered in Dhaka, the nation’s capital, demanding a democratic transition through a new election. The supporters convened in front of the BNP headquarters, voicing their calls for a prompt election. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has revealed plans for reform across various sectors, but the major political parties, including the BNP under former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s leadership, are pushing for a swift election.
Yunus assumed leadership after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country following mass protests, concluding her 15-year rule. The demonstrations, which initially began in July, evolved into an anti-government movement. Hasina has been residing in India since then. Despite not setting a specific timeline for a new national election, Yunus stated in his recent speeches that they would remain in power for as long as the people support them.
The BNP initially demanded an election within three months but later expressed willingness to allow the interim government time to enact reforms. Additionally, the country’s main Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, a former ally of Zia’s party, also advocates for giving the current government led by Yunus more time before holding elections. Tarique Rahman, the heir to Zia and acting chairman of the BNP, endorsed the interim government’s reform agenda, emphasizing the importance of public involvement in the process for sustaining changes.
In a separate development, a court in Dhaka granted permission on Tuesday for interrogators to question two senior journalists facing murder charges while in custody. Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bengali-language Bhorer Kagoj, and Mozammel Babu, managing director and editor-in-chief of Ekattor TV, were apprehended as they reportedly tried to flee to India. Both journalists, closely associated with Hasina, are accused in connection with student-led protests. The arrests of journalists following Hasina’s departure from power have drawn condemnation from organizations like Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch.
Reporters Without Borders urged a halt to the “purge” of journalists linked to the former government, highlighting concerns about the impact on Bangladesh’s political transition. Antoine Bernard, RSF’s director of Advocacy and Assistance, called for the Yunus-led interim authorities to intervene and bring an end to what he described as a harmful process affecting media professionals in Bangladesh.
