Advisory Council is conspiring to postpone elections: Major Hafiz Uddin

Local Correspondent. Bhola, July 27, 2025.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has alleged that the interim government’s advisory council is indulging in a conspiracy to postpone the elections. He said that this move is against democratic practices and the intention to stay in power for a long time is clear. He raised this allegation while addressing the tri-annual conference of upazila and municipal BNP at the Lalmohan Upazila Parishad auditorium in Bhola on Saturday (July 26, 2025).

Major Hafiz Uddin said,

“BNP and other political parties have supported the interim government. We had hoped that this government would move forward on the path of establishing democracy. But our expectations have not been fulfilled yet. A free, fair and impartial election is essential to establish true democracy in the country. But currently the Advisory Council is trying to postpone the election, behind which their intention to stay in power for another five years is clear.”

He alleged, “This conspiracy is going on because they do not want to give up the taste of power.”

Criticism of the PR selection process

At the conference, Major Hafiz strongly criticized the proposed proportional representation (PR) election system. He said, “Those who do not know the reality of the country, especially the nature of voting in rural Bengal, are proposing such reforms. In the PR system, voters will vote only on the party symbol, without considering the personal merit or contribution of the candidate. In this, voters will not even get a chance to see the face of the candidate.” He added,

“This approach is being advocated by small parties that have little chance of winning the popular vote.”

Clarifying the BNP’s position, he said, “We want an electoral system where voters will vote considering the personal qualities of the candidate, his past work and his contribution to the people. The people will be able to make independent decisions in choosing their representatives.” He emphasized, “This is the BNP’s demand.”

Demand for early elections

Major Hafiz Uddin reiterated his demand for quick elections. He said, “Elections should be held as soon as possible. The elections should be held by February 2026 at the latest. Whoever the people vote for will come to power. We will accept that.” He added, “Whenever we talk about elections, the advisors’ faces turn black. We are not demanding anything unjust. We just want fair elections to establish a people’s government.”

Criticism of the interim government

Expressing anger over the activities of the interim government, Major Hafiz said, “We had high expectations from the interim government, but they have completely failed to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people. They have not even taken any initiative to inquire about or assess those injured in the July-August protests.” He added,

“BNP has struggled against misrule for 16 years. We have tried to bring democracy back to the country. But that hope is fading with the current activities of the Advisory Council.”

The conference was chaired by Lalmohan Upazila BNP convener Taharat Hafiz Ark and moderated by member secretary Shafiqul Islam Babul. BNP Central Co-Organizing Secretary A. K. N. Kuddusur Rahman was present as the main speaker. National Executive Committee member and Bhola district coordinator Abu Naser Rahmat Ullah inaugurated the conference. District BNP convener Golam Nabi Alamgir, senior joint convener Shafiur Rahman Kiran and member secretary Raisul Alam were present as special guests.

Major Hafiz Uddin also said, “If there is a need for reforms in the country, it should be done through the elected parliament. It would be wrong if any party or group decides to reform alone.” He urged party leaders and activists, “Some corrupt or opportunist may enter our party. So we have to be careful.” He mentioned the recent incident of some Awami League workers joining a BNP procession in Bhola and said, “We have to be careful of such incidents.”

Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed’s statement has sparked a heated debate on the current political situation in Bangladesh and the role of the Advisory Council in elections. He has clearly demanded the establishment of a people’s government through fair and impartial elections and warned against any attempt to prolong his rule. The statement has sparked new discussions in political circles and has raised the possibility of more heated debates in the coming days on the timing and process of the elections.