BNP leader Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain questioned the prolonged delay in holding national elections under the current interim government. “We’ve seen national elections completed in just three months—what justification is there for taking an entire year?” He called for the immediate announcement of an election date. “Otherwise, the BNP won’t sit idle.” Zahid accused the government of scapegoating BNP leaders and activists for every crisis over the past nine months. “We were denied fair votes in 2008. In 2014 and 2018, ballots were cast the night before the election. And the 2024 vote was nothing but a sham.” He also alleged foreign interference, saying, “From India, the so-called ‘Queen of Jackfruits’ is conspiring against Bangladesh. Their efforts to keep the Awami League in power have failed. Now, accomplices of dictatorship are plotting from abroad. We must resist this.” Zahid concluded by warning of pro-regime elements still embedded in the administration. “These remnants of authoritarianism must be rooted out.”