Gono Forum disputes Yunus’ claim only one party seeks polls by December

Gono Forum has rejected Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s claim that only one political party wants the national election to be held by December.

“The claim is incorrect,” the party said in a statement on Friday, adding that it has consistently called for elections by December after necessary reforms to ensure a free and fair vote.

The statement came after a meeting of the party’s presidium council at its central office in Dhaka.

Gono Forum said recent remarks by the chief adviser and others were “vague and misleading” and they risked creating division among political parties.

The party also criticised the government for excluding it from recent meetings with political parties, calling the move an attempt to sideline it.

It urged the government to announce a clear election roadmap and warned against “evil forces” seeking to disrupt the unity formed through the July uprising.

On Thursday, Yunus told the 30th Nikkei Forum in Tokyo that only one party wants the national election to be held by December.

While he did not name the party, his comment is widely understood to refer to the BNP, which has formally called for elections within this year.

Senior BNP leaders, including acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, have repeatedly demanded polls by December.