Yunus-Tarique meeting evokes mixed reactions, mostly positive

The high-voltage meeting between Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London on Friday has triggered a wave of mixed reactions, mostly positive, across Bangladesh's political spectrum, while political analysts see a glimmer of hope for the country's return to democratic order through national elections.

While the meeting raised hope for resolving Bangladesh's prolonged political impasse, political observers agree that a final outcome will largely depend on the progress of ongoing reforms, the response of other political forces, and broader consensus on justice and governance issues in the weeks and months ahead.

Shortly after the one-on-one meeting, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in a statement, termed the outcome of the talks a "fruitful consensus" that dispelled uncertainty and brought a "new hope" to the people by setting the stage for national elections before Ramadan.

He said the meeting ensured Bangladesh's victory through a consensus that connected national expectations with a logical timeframe for polls.

Held at London's Dorchester Hotel from 2:00pm to 3:30pm Bangladesh time, the much-anticipated meeting between the head of the interim government and the leader of the country's largest opposition party covered a range of crucial issues concerning the upcoming general election.

Fakhrul praised both leaders for their roles, saying Tarique Rahman once again demonstrated his prioritisation of the country's interests, sovereignty, and stability by agreeing to compromises required by the situation.

"In the journey to establish democracy, he is not only a leader of the highest power on the streets, but also equally skilled and visionary at the dialogue table and in constructive engagement," Fakhrul said.

BNP expects that, following the agreement, the interim government will now begin full-fledged preparations to hold the national election before Ramadan, staying firm on its stated position.

However, not all political voices echoed the same optimism. National Citizens Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary sharply criticised the overseas meeting, saying national decisions should not be made abroad.

Speaking to a daily after the meeting, he remarked, "The election date will not determine the future of Bangladesh. Without a national consensus on justice and reform issues, a specific roadmap, and visible progress, elections cannot be held in a hurry under pressure from any party."

Patwary further insisted that such discussions should prioritise the country's dignity and be conducted domestically.

"The government must pay the blood debt of the martyrs in the mass uprising. The process of justice and reform must be completed," he said.

Referring to the earlier decision to hold elections in February, he said, "Now, if a decision is taken abroad with a party on a national issue, the people of Bangladesh should not accept it."

Echoing similar concerns, Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Gonosanghati Andolon, termed the meeting "positive" but called for a definitive election date. He stressed that beyond setting a date, genuine discussions on reforms and justice must accompany the process.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said reforms and trials should precede any election, and argued that completing these processes by December would be more feasible than rushing into a February poll.

He warned that failure to address these issues would prolong the political deadlock.

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