As the caretaker government’s repeated calls for a road map to national elections remain unanswered, the BNP is now preparing to launch a move to pressure the government on the issue, party sources said.

At a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee – the party’s highest political body – on Monday, which was joined by BNP acting president Tarique Rahman, it was decided that the government would be asked to draw up a sheet electoral route in the next two to three months. If he did not respond, the party would launch programs from March to April next year to exert pressure.

However, during the meeting, a few members expressed a preference to move forward at a more measured pace.

Several BNP leaders told The Business Standard that there is a clear indication that the caretaker government is systematically neglecting the views of the BNP, as evidenced by the lack of communication with the party before the formation of the research commission to form the Electoral Commission (EC).

Additionally, recent comments from various advisors indicate that the elections may be delayed to allow the emergence of a competing political force against the BNP.

At the same time, the BNP has begun to strengthen its communication with its co-movement partners and is holding meetings with smaller aligned parties.

According to party sources, the BNP has also pledged to nominate 18 senior leaders from smaller parties to strengthen alliances in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Recently, at a Jamaat-e-Islami event, BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Salah Uddin Ahmed expressed their desire to join forces. The move illustrates the BNP’s commitment to maintaining alliances with like-minded parties and its proactive stance in strengthening the demand for national elections.

Earlier, on November 3, citing the “minus two formula” during the political changeover of January 11, 2007, the secretary general of the BNP, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, had warned against the repetition of any effort at depoliticization. “We want to make it clear that you should not try to do anything to exclude the BNP from any plot, because the people of Bangladesh will never accept it.”

Mirza Fakhrul also said that an adviser to the caretaker government had made an unexpected and unwarranted comment, suggesting that politicians were eager to come to power. “It is very regrettable. We would not expect an individual of his stature to make such comments.”

The BNP general secretary further expressed fear that the longer the government postpones the elections, the higher the likelihood that Hasina and her associates will be able to regain their influence.

On the same day, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas also called on the government to clarify the required timeline for state reforms and announce the election schedule at the earliest.

Citing a reference to the fall of the Awami League government, he warned: “The people of the country have not accepted the Awami League-led government which remained in power for the last 16 years without voting. They (the people) will not accept this. government for a long time either.

Meanwhile, the BNP has decided to stage huge clashes on November 8 in all divisional cities, including the capital, as part of its “National Revolution and Solidarity Day” events. with the intention of sending a “subtle message” to the interim government.