In response to a question on whether Awami League will be given a chance to contest in the next elections, Dr. Muhammad Yunus said, "It has already been announced. We didn't want to decide on political party. BNP did it, said that all political parties will definitely contest the elections. So they have already given their verdict. We will not ignore the opinion of a major party in the country."

Dr. Muhammad Yunus said this in an interview given to Indian media 'The Hindu'. The interview given at Jamuna, the residence of the chief adviser in Dhaka, was published in the online edition of The Hindu on Monday. Dr. Yunus also said, I am not a political person to choose one party or another. I am helping politicians to realize their aspirations.

The Hindu journalist wanted to know how the incident of August 5 is affecting Bangladesh-India relations? Has it come as a setback? In response, Dr. Yunus said, why would this happen? Bangladesh has been liberated from a regime where people have suffered, many have been killed, many have been disappeared, many institutions have been destroyed. India should celebrate this liberation of Bangladesh as a friendly country. Like many countries have done, India should also join our youth and celebrate together.

The journalist said, you said, Sheikh Hasina's presence in India is creating problems in (India-Bangladesh) relations...' In response, Dr. Yunus said, (Sheikh Hasina) is at least staying in India at this time, it is not a problem. Her talking about Bangladesh is a problem. She is talking to the people of Bangladesh, and they are about politics. She is continuing her political activities, that are the problem.

Regarding the newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, he said, I do not think that everything will change in the United States because of a new president. He said, foreign policy and country-to-country relations do not usually change due to a change in the presidency. Apart from that, even if there are changes in Trump's second term, we have to remember that this is also Bangladesh 2, which we call the new Bangladesh. So we will wait and see if the US representatives come and see and if our economy continues to do well, they will be very interested. They are the biggest government buyer in Bangladesh, from our side too. In the interview, Dr. Yunus highlighted the initiatives taken by the government to restore discipline in the financial sector, which is plagued by various problems including non-performing loans, and their success.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for arranging for elections quickly in a suitable environment after fundamental reforms.

He said this in his speech at the 3rd Council of the Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers Association (JTEB) at the Institute of Engineering (IEB) in the capital on Saturday (November 16) afternoon.

Addressing the interim government, he said, "I want to make it clear that election-centric reforms must be completed quickly. I hope that after the fundamental reforms of the election system, administration, law and order and judicial system, it is necessary to move towards elections quickly for the welfare of the people of the country."

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "The main desire of the people of the country is a democratic state, we have to eliminate all the problems that have arisen to implement the desire of a democratic society. If we try to do more than that, the more problems will arise as time goes by."

Addressing the government, he said, "Let us maintain the image we had in front of the people." The BNP Secretary General also said that people should stand by each other in their happiness and sorrow. He said that it is the responsibility of the interim government to reform fundamental issues and arrange an election in a suitable environment.

BNP has gone to US ambassador-in-charge Ms. Megan Bouldin's Gulshan residence on an invitation for tea.

BNP leaders went to her residence on Thursday (November 14) morning.

Confirming this information, BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said that a group led by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir went to the US ambassador-in-charge's residence for tea at 10 am today.

Also present were the party's standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, International affairs committee member and organizing secretary Shama Obaid.

BNP has been demanding a clear roadmap for the elections from the interim government. That demand became stronger since the party's rally on November 8. The presence of leaders and activists from different parts of the country in that rally made the party more dynamic. In view of this, BNP has decided to hold rallies in divisional cities to strengthen its preparations for the next election and prevent any conspiracy. In addition, the party has decided to hold another big public rally on December 16 to mark Victory Day.

However, although the specific time of the rally has not been clarified yet, several BNP leaders have said that the activities may start from next month.

Earlier, the meeting was held on Monday (November 11) night at the Chairperson's political office in Gulshan in the capital, sources in the meeting said that this issue was discussed. The meeting was virtually presided over by the party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

Sources in the meeting said that detailed discussions were held on the elections, the activities of the interim government, the current political situation, relations with Jamaat and other parties, and the next steps of BNP. If no decision is taken by the government during this period, the party will take to the streets demanding the 13th Jatiya Sangsad(JS) election by March-April.

Regarding the rally, several BNP leaders said that this rally will be held so that the government does not prolong its power and does not belittle the BNP. In addition, the goal of this rally will be to prevent any more conspiracies in the country and to maintain the democratic system. Apart from this, the BNP is also planning a big showdown around the great Victory Day.

They said that along with state reforms, the electoral process should also be carried out simultaneously. This will restore confidence in the minds of the people of the country. If a roadmap is not given, the fear among political parties of delaying the elections will increase further. This will also put the parties in uncertainty.

The interim government will have to discuss with the political parties before taking any decision regarding the elections. We are also discussing with the parties. BNP and other parties are committed to providing all kinds of cooperation to the government in its goal of fair elections in the country. But the more the elections are delayed, the more conspiracies will increase. Therefore, there is no alternative to elections to counter the conspiracy, said BNP leaders.

The meeting also discussed the inclusion of three new members in the advisory council. In this regard, they said that two of those appointed here are controversial. BNP is surprised by such a decision. They should have scrutinized and thought about it further. Earlier, BNP had questioned the appointment of former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder as an adviser and demanded his resignation.

The meeting also discussed the issue of creating distance between BNP and Jamaat. The party leaders said that we have also agitated with Jamaat in the past to topple the fascist government. We have no distance from them. We want to hold elections with them.

However, the leaders urged continued formal or informal communication with Jamaat so that there is no rift or distance.