DHAKA, July 29 (V7N) – Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today expressed confidence that a free and fair election would be held as promised by the interim government's Chief Adviser, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

"We hope that the aspirations of the people will be realized through free and fair elections at the right time, as promised by the Chief Adviser," Fakhrul stated at a program titled 'Implementation of the Recommendations of the UN Fact-Finding Report' at a city hotel this afternoon. Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus also attended and spoke at the event.

Fakhrul acknowledged that disagreements are natural in a democracy but cautioned against exaggerating minor differences, which he believes are creating divisions within the nation.

He demanded the swift expedition of trials related to the July mass killings and necessary state reforms. The BNP Secretary General emphasized that "reforms will have to be made from the depths of the state, otherwise dictatorship will return."

Highlighting the importance of a representative government, Fakhrul asserted, "We all need to remember one thing. A government that represents the people is very important." He declared July not just the month of liberation from tyranny, but also the "month of rebirth of the nation." He expressed hope that the youth of Bangladesh would cooperate in building a future Bangladesh "where human rights will be truly established... People will be able to build a welfare state with their rights and our children will no longer have to give their lives like this."

Context of the UN Fact-Finding Report and Elections:

The event's title, "Implementation of the Recommendations of the UN Fact-Finding Report," refers to a significant report published by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on February 12, 2025. This report documented widespread human rights violations and abuses related to the protests in Bangladesh between July and August 2024, which ultimately led to the ousting of the former government. The report found "reasonable grounds to believe" that the former government and its security apparatus, along with elements linked to the Awami League, systematically engaged in serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, detention, torture, and suppression of free speech. It also raised concerns about these violations potentially amounting to crimes against humanity. The report urged for accountability, justice, and comprehensive reforms of the security and justice sectors, as well as the abolition of repressive laws.

Regarding the election timeline, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced on June 6, 2025, that the next national elections would be held in the first half of April 2026. This timeline has been a point of contention, with the BNP, among other parties, pushing for earlier elections, ideally by December 2025, to expedite the return to an elected government. The interim government maintains that comprehensive reforms are necessary before holding credible elections. "Reforms, trials, and elections" have been stated as the three core mandates of the interim government.

END/ASH/RH/