Senior BNP leaders on Friday intensified criticism of Bangladesh’s 2024 national election, calling it a “dummy vote” and questioning the silence surrounding a recent high-level meeting between the chief advisor and the chief election commissioner.
Speaking at an event organized in Dhaka by the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Front to mark Rath Yatra, BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the government’s own associates are beginning to admit the election was manipulated.
“The people working with Sheikh Hasina now admit the 2024 election was fake,” Rizvi said. “When that is the case, it means this parliament, the prime minister, even the president—none of it has legal standing.”
Rizvi also raised concerns about individuals allegedly using BNP’s name for unauthorized political activity in government offices.
“We’ve heard of someone at the income tax office claiming to act on behalf of BNP,” he said. “He’s talking about replacing the chairman. Who gave him that role? As the senior joint secretary general, even I don’t know.”
He said such actions are not approved by the party and warned against what he called an opportunistic clique misusing the BNP banner for personal gain.
Meeting Between Top Officials Draws Attention
Later in the day, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed spoke to reporters at his home. He brought up a meeting that reportedly took place between the country’s chief advisor and the chief election commissioner.
“We expected some sort of press release, either from the advisor’s office or the commission,” Ahmed said. “People are assuming the advisor has delivered a message to the election commissioner, but unless both sides clarify this to the public, we can’t be sure.”
He called for transparency about the purpose and outcome of the meeting, which he said had already attracted public interest.
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BNP Eyes September for Election Preparedness
According to Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP is preparing for the possibility of future national elections. He said the party expects to complete all necessary organizational preparations by September.
To understand these comments, you have to see them as part of a bigger fight. For years, the BNP has been saying that the current government is choking off real democracy.
So now, they’re pointing to the low voter turnout in the 2024 election as their “I told you so” moment, using it as proof that the system isn’t legitimate.
No official response has yet been issued by the Election Commission or the Prime Minister’s Office regarding either the remarks by Rizvi or the calls for disclosure about the recent meeting.
For now, BNP appears focused on shaping public perception. It’s still unclear whether the government will respond or continue to sidestep direct engagement.
