BNP confident government preparing for pre-Ramadan election: Farroque

BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Zainul Abedin Farroque expressed confidence Friday that the interim government is preparing to hold the national election before Ramadan, fulfilling the earlier commitment made by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

Speaking at a discussion organized by the Education Development Campaign at the Jatiya Press Club, Farroque urged the government to adhere to its promise of timely elections.

“Our humble request to Dr. Muhammad Yunus is to kindly live up to your commitment. An election will be held before Ramadan, and the government is certainly preparing for it. We remain hopeful,” he said.

Farroque, a former opposition chief whip in parliament, criticized the government for already delaying the election and warned against further postponements.

He cited the example of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, who successfully organized national elections within three months after the fall of the Ershad government.

“If the government had ended this prolonged delay and held elections within three to six months, its name would have been inscribed in golden letters in Bangladesh’s history. Although it is late now, we remain hopeful that the election will take place before Ramadan,” Farroque added.

The BNP leader also highlighted public skepticism, fueled by rumors that some parties might secure between 200 to 300 seats, raising doubts about the election’s fairness.

“There are concerns that elections might be postponed until the new party, NCP, becomes stronger. However, after the recent London meeting, I am confident as a political activist that elections will be held before Ramadan,” he said.

Farroque emphasized that the future government’s priorities should include strengthening the election system, law and order, and key constitutional institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission.

He expressed hope that the next government will learn from the past atrocities and repression experienced under the Hasina administration and prevent such incidents from recurring.

Stressing the importance of judicial and constitutional independence, Farroque said, “The judiciary and constitutional institutions must function independently.”

On education, he promised that the BNP, if elected, would place the sector at the highest priority.

“When an elected government is formed, elected representatives will directly address issues in the education sector. Without improving education, the nation’s development is impossible,” he said.

Farroque also criticized the current government’s handling of education, blaming former Education Minister Dipu Moni and the Awami League for damaging the system.

“There are no words to describe how Sheikh Hasina and her father destroyed the education system. Those who once spoke about democracy failed to address education,” he remarked.