Bangladesh Jatiyo Party (BJP) Chairman Andalib Rahman Partha has expressed his opposition to holding local elections before the national elections. He made this statement on Saturday (February 15) after attending a meeting of the National Consensus Commission.
In his remarks, Partha highlighted the past six months under the current interim government, noting the widespread support from both political leaders and the international community. “We, along with the leaders and activists from all over Bangladesh, stand by this government. The international community, including the United Nations, is with us,” he said. He also pointed out that after the UN’s report, the false accusations against the government had largely been discredited. “We must maintain this unity,” he added, emphasizing the importance of respecting the sacrifices made by the students who became martyrs in their fight for justice.
The BJP Chairman also mentioned that during the meeting, the chief adviser spoke about plans for the next six months, including how various commissions would communicate with them and how further discussions would be held.
Regarding the timing of the elections, Partha stated that some parties are advocating for an early election. However, he expressed concerns about the potential for violence in local elections, specifically warning that elections for more than 4,500 union councils could lead to bloody clashes. “Local elections tend to be more violent, and the ground reality is different.
He further emphasized that any reforms should not delay the national election. “Some political parties have said that holding local elections first would be better. We stand by them and will continue to support them. We must ensure that the sacrifices made by so many are not wasted. This achievement is not an ordinary one, and we should not undermine it for our own interests,” he added.
