BJP Chairman Andalib Rahman Partha firmly stated that local elections should not be held before the national elections. Speaking after a National Consensus Commission meeting on Saturday afternoon, he added that the Chief Adviser confirmed international and UN support for the interim government. The UN’s report has debunked false narratives by fascists. Partha stressed that national elections must be prioritized to ensure stability and reforms.

AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju stated that while the interim government is in power, its authority remains unclear. He warned that an election under such circumstances could be dangerous. He revealed that the Chief Adviser has assured financial support from multiple sources but emphasized that necessary reforms must be implemented. Manju urged the government to form a political unity team, as previously suggested, and called for the Chief Adviser to go undercover and assess the law and order situation himself.

On Friday night (February 14), Fuad Hossain, the uncle of martyr Hasibur Rahman, filed a murder case at Savar Police Station. The case names former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 1,506 others, including Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Abdullah Al Mamun, Habibur Rahman, Harun-ar-Rashid, and Abdullahil Kafi. Hasibur was shot during a victory rally on August 5 following Sheikh Hasina’s downfall and died in hospital on August 7. Police have already arrested two accused, Abdullah Al Mamun and Abdullahil Kafi.

At a discussion organized by Democratic Awake Bangladesh at the National Press Club on Saturday, BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu criticized the government, saying, “Dr. Yunus identified a mastermind behind a successful movement within a month! Then why haven’t commodity prices dropped in six months? Why hasn’t the law and order situation improved?” He urged pro-democracy forces to remain united and criticized those who prematurely believed that Sheikh Hasina had fled after a mass uprising.

On Saturday afternoon, Chhatra Dal leader Omar Faruq and activist Abu Sayeed began an indefinite hunger strike at the base of the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University, demanding a ban on the “fallen fascist Awami League.” Leaders and activists of the Revolutionary Student Council expressed solidarity and, seeing a common cause, also announced their participation. Among them were council convenor Abdul Wahed, secretary Fazlur Rahman, and members Yamin Sarker, Ashraful Islam, and Ariful Islam.

The date of the next election will be determined by the July Charter, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. Speaking to journalists in Dhaka, he mentioned that the election could be held by December, with some reforms implemented before that. A six-month National Consensus Commission will discuss reforms with political parties, aiming for an agreement. The political dialogue, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has begun, with major opposition leaders participating to shape Bangladesh’s democratic transition.

Political parties have begun discussions with the National Consensus Commission, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The meeting started at 3:00 PM at the Foreign Service Academy, Dhaka. Leaders from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, LDP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and other parties attended. The government recently formed the seven-member commission, appointing Dr. Ali Riaz as Vice Chairman. Delegations from various parties, including Jamaat and Islami Andolan, participated. Dr. Yunus is set to address the gathering on the commission’s role in shaping the transition.

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has declared that national elections must take precedence over local elections. He warned that delaying the elections would further discredit the government. Speaking at a roundtable discussion, he said, "For 17 years, we have witnessed the dire consequences of rigged elections. Nobody imagined that the momentum of the 1990 movement would be abruptly halted. Political science has had to incorporate a new chapter—where voters are instructed via loudspeakers not to go to polling stations, and elections are held overnight." He further stated that when state power is misused to conduct one-sided elections, it results in severe oppression of the opposition, which is beyond description.

Since independence, Bangladesh has seen the rise of various political parties, with BNP being the largest among them. The Jatiya Party also held power through controversial elections but managed to establish certain regional vote banks. For decades, the country's political landscape has been dominated by Awami League and BNP. However, a new student-led party is emerging as a centrist force, steering clear of extreme right or left ideologies. Akhtar Hossain, the party's secretary, emphasized their commitment to equality, justice, and good governance. Samanta Sharmin stated that they aim to engage in politics driven by rights, responsibilities, and empathy. The party also draws inspiration from the success of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Imran Khan, and Arvind Kejriwal's political movements.

On the 20th anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has announced his return to political activity. After three years away from politics, Hariri stated that his party, Future Movement, will re-enter the political arena. According to a report by Arab News, the party will remain committed to the ideals of the Taif Agreement, state-building, reconstruction, and institutional development. Hariri emphasized the vision of a normal state where no weapon exists outside the control of the state. He expressed support for the country’s president, government, and the new hope for unity during this period.

Abdus Salam, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bandarban district, has stated that justice should come before elections. Speaking at a conference on Friday, he emphasized the need for harmony over hostility. He criticized those who, according to him, lacked the courage to remove a car from in front of their leader’s house yet now speak against Jamaat-e-Islami. He also claimed that there is no evidence of Jamaat activists being involved in extortion or tender manipulation. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of electing honest individuals as local representatives to establish good governance.

The National Consensus Commission, led by Interim Government’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to begin its official activities today with a meeting with BNP. The discussion, scheduled for 3:00 PM at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, will focus on reports from six reform commissions formed by the interim government. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will lead the party’s delegation. The reform reports have already been shared with political parties for review ahead of the discussions.

BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has expressed concerns that centrist politics may face significant challenges in the near future. He stated that a particular political party is advocating for local elections before holding the national elections, and some of its members are attempting to mislead the interim government. As a result, there is growing uncertainty about the future of centrist politics.

Rizvi also remarked on Dr. Muhammad Yunus, calling him an internationally renowned figure and a victim of persecution under the Hasina administration. He believes Dr. Yunus will make just decisions. Rizvi further emphasized that people have been fighting for free elections for 17 years, and a national election should first establish a stable political environment. Only then should the elected government organize local elections, he asserted.

On Friday, the Gano Odhikar Parishad of Dhaka Metropolitan staged a fascism-resisting protest and mass rally demanding justice for the 1971 genocide and the banning of the perpetrators’ political activities. During the event, Gano Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur stated, “Our party will not compromise on the question of banning the Awami League. It is the misfortune of this nation that its brave sons create new history by fighting in the streets while only a few benefit. Why, even six months after the people’s uprising, must we take to the streets to ban the Awami League?” He also called for the reorganization of the advisory council.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka Metropolitan North, has issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding the release of ATM Azharul Islam within seven days. He claimed that Azhar, the party’s former acting secretary-general, has been unjustly sentenced to death in a fabricated case solely for his political affiliation with Jamaat.

Speaking as the chief guest at a rally in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Selim Uddin warned that if the government fails to comply, a mass movement will be launched to secure his release. He further stated that during the August uprising, all political groups took to the streets, yet only Jamaat was banned. Calling the movement’s participants “Razakars” led to widespread outrage, and within days of the ban, the ruling party was forced to flee. He asserted that those who conspire to eliminate Jamaat have always been erased from history.