A high-stake political meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has officially begun in London, amid hopes for a breakthrough in the ongoing political crisis ahead of the general election.
The meeting began at The Dorchester hotel on Park Lane around 2pm (Bangladesh time) on Friday, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
Earlier, the BNP leader reached the hotel to attend the meeting with Prof Yunus, who is visiting the UK.
Tarique is accompanied by BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and BNP Acting Chairman’s International Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.
The significance of this high-profile meeting lies in its potential to outline how the current interim government, led by Prof Yunus, will navigate the path to democracy by holding a free, fair, and neutral general election.
Meanwhile, BNP Media Cell Convener Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel said Amir Khasru will brief the media following the dialogue between Prof Yunus and Tarique Rahman.
There is widespread public expectation that the dialogue will be productive, contributing to peace, stability, and a brighter future for Bangladesh. Otherwise, many fear the spirit of the July uprising will have been in vain.
Political analysts have expressed concern that a failure to yield positive results from the meeting could leave the state’s problems unresolved, casting a shadow over the country’s future.
This meeting holds considerable importance both nationally and internationally, as the international community continues to monitor Bangladesh’s democratic transition closely.
It is believed that the meeting could help resolve several issues, ease political tensions, and potentially open a new chapter in Bangladesh’s political history.
Sources have indicated that the BNP is expected to urge Prof Yunus to revise the election timeline and agree to hold national polls before next Ramadan, possibly in January or February of next year. In return, Prof Yunus is reportedly seeking assurance from the BNP on matters related to state reform.
Key topics expected to be discussed include the forthcoming parliamentary elections, justice for atrocities committed by the previous regime, the possible return of Tarique Rahman from London, the fate of the ousted Awami League, state reforms, the July Charter, and Bangladesh’s relations with India.
