Dhaka: An emergency meeting of the Standing Committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was held this evening at its Party Chairperson’s political office at Gulshan. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting virtually from London.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting focused on the upcoming national election and other political matters. The high command of the party expressed a preference for holding the national election in the middle of this year. They criticized the idea of conducting local government elections before the national polls, describing it as a waste of time.
The committee asserted that the interim government should organize national elections in mid-year, aligning with the wishes of the people, and suggested that local government polls be left to the newly elected government. BNP leaders plan to advocate for elections ahead of the interim government’s schedule through various meetings and seminars.
The meeting also raised concerns over the recent increase in VAT, tax, and duty on more than a hundred goods and services during the fiscal year. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to address a press conference tomorrow afternoon at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan to relay the meeting’s decisions to the public.
The committee also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing improvement of Begum Khaleda Zia’s health condition. Attendees of the meeting included standing committee members Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Zamir Uddin Sirkar, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salauddin Ahmed, Begum Selima Rahman, and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Mirza Abbas and Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain participated virtually from London.