National consensus on holding election before Ramadan: Khasru

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, stated that there is a national consensus on holding elections before Ramadan. “Everyone shares the same opinion on this matter. We do not believe there is any disagreement. For various reasons, we have reached this consensus, and the nation supports it,” he said.

He made the remarks on Tuesday during a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. Earlier that day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with Paulo Fernando Dias Feres, the Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh. Amir Khasru and BNP’s organizational secretary Shama Obaid were also present. The meeting lasted for about one and a half hours.

Regarding the election date, Amir Khasru said, “The Election Commission will announce the schedule. Neither the government nor we can declare it. We must be patient. Constant unrest won’t help. The nation needs to remain patient and tolerant.”

On questions about trust and dialogue, he said, “There have been discussions. We must be patient and continue on the right path. The nation is moving towards democracy, and through a fair election, democracy will be restored. We all need to maintain trust in this process.”

When asked about Jamaat’s views on the London meeting, he replied, “I won’t comment on other parties’ opinions. But everyone should have the right to voice their views. Even if there is disagreement, respect for others’ opinions is essential.”

On political discussions during the meeting, he noted, “They believe having an elected government will make it easier to implement decisions. They are waiting for that.”

He added, “The government and Election Commission will coordinate on the election date. This is routine, and we must remain patient. The London meeting was a positive step forward for the nation. It’s important not to cast doubts that could hinder progress. Solutions will come in due time, and elections will be held as scheduled.”

Regarding the meeting with the Brazilian ambassador, Amir Khasru said, “We had objective discussions about bilateral relations and future cooperation, particularly in agriculture. Brazil is far ahead in agriculture, and this was given significant focus.”

He also mentioned, “Sports cooperation was another interesting topic. Brazil’s football and potential collaboration with Bangladesh in sports were discussed. They are very interested in working with us.”