"We are not satisfied at all. We clearly said that unless there is an election by December, the political, economic, and social conditions of the country will worsen further." — BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir The election must be held by December, as any delay could cause the situation to spiral out of control, the BNP said after a meeting with the chief adviser yesterday. The BNP said it was dissatisfied because Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus did not say specifically when the election will be held. "The honourable chief adviser did not give us a specific deadline…. He said he wanted the election to be held between [this] December and June [2026]," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters in front of state guest house Jamuna, the CA's official residence. Fakhrul and BNP standing committee members Jamir Uddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku attended the nearly two-hour long meeting. "We are not satisfied at all. We clearly said that unless there is an election by December, the political, economic, and social conditions of the country will worsen further," Fakhrul said. Advisers Salehuddin Ahmed, Wahiduddin Mahmud, Adilur Rahman Khan, and Asif Nazrul also attended the meeting. Asif talked to reporters minutes after Fakhrul's briefing ended. Between this December and June next year, the law adviser said, the election would be held as early as possible. Fakhrul said the BNP demanded a specific roadmap to the election. "To me, they seemed content. When our meeting ended, I thought they had received answers to many of the questions on their minds. That's how I felt. Fakhrul Bhai might have felt differently." — Law Adviser Asif Nazrul "In the given political situation and the state of the country, we believe the solution will come from a fair election," he said. Fakhrul said his party leaders would discuss among themselves and with ally parties to decide the next course of action. Asked whether he thought the government was trying to extend its stay in power, Fakhrul said the chief adviser "did not rule out [election in] December. But leaves the window open until June. However, we have made it clear that December is our cut-off time". The BNP leaders pointed out at the meeting that the next Ramadan will be in February, and then there will be the SSC and HSC exams -- each of which takes a month or longer. By the exams end, it will be monsoon and elections may seem impractical, said sources present at the meeting. In response, the CA said he would keep these factors in mind. At the meeting, Fakhrul submitted a four-page letter to the CA, outlining what immediate actions the government must take. The letter mentioned the responsibility of national identity cards should lie with the Election Commission and urged the CA to promptly resolve the legal complexities over redrawing the boundaries of constituencies. "We have supported you and would like to have faith in you," the letter reads. The BNP believes a free and fair national election can be held by December after reforming laws, rules, and provisions, and making changes to the relevant institutions. "We reaffirm our decision to continue supporting all good initiatives undertaken by your government. We urge… quick announcement of a roadmap to the national parliamentary election by December," reads the letter. Those who frequently talk about reforms often attempt to label the BNP as an anti-reform party, it adds. "All changes are not reforms. The purpose of reforms is to make positive and constructive changes." Democracy is the only way to protect people's rights and improve their lives. Just as the past fascist regime deprived people of rights with a narrative of "development first, democracy later", some people are now saying "reforms first. Democracy later", says the letter. It also urged the government to immediately initiate trials of the "fascist party and its associates". The BNP called for prompt and effective measures to ensure compensation and proper treatment of the victims of July atrocities. It stressed the need for stronger initiatives to control commodity prices, improve the law and order situation, and boost economic activities. BNP reiterated its demand for the immediate withdrawal of all "false" cases filed during the "illegal 1/11 government and the fascist regime". BNP leaders criticised two advisers who had participated in the July–August movement, saying they were using state power to benefit a political party, said a source. Fakhrul said, "We are fully cooperating with the ongoing reform initiatives taken by the government…. "We have made it very clear that we are willing to draft a charter on the issues where all parties reach a consensus and based on that… we can proceed towards the election. As for the remaining reforms, the political party that comes to power will take steps to implement them." LAW ADVISER'S BRIEFING Asif said, "To me, they [BNP leaders] seemed content. When our meeting ended, I thought they had received answers to many of the questions on their minds. That's how I felt. Fakhrul Bhai might have felt differently." The BNP secretary general has the right to express how he felt, and different individuals perceive things differently, he said. December 2025 to June 2026 does not mean the government will deliberately delay the polls to enjoy power, he added. "If December is feasible, it will be held in December. If not, then January," he said. There is no way the polls will be delayed beyond June 2026, he added. The BNP expressed concerns that the reforms might take time, Asif said. They have clearly stated that even if the July charter is ready, there are some legal and policy issues which would take time, he added.