BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday endorsed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’ speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), describing it as “strong enough” and affirming his party’s belief that national elections will take place in February 2026 as declared.

“It was strong enough. And in recent days he (Professor Yunus) has been repeating these points,” Fakhrul told reporters at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York, following the Chief Adviser’s address. 

He also said, “We political parties have no doubt whatsoever. We are convinced that the election will be held in February 2026.”

Fakhrul, who joined the Chief Adviser as part of the Bangladesh delegation to the UNGA, said Yunus’ speech reflected not only the government’s reform agenda but also a broader message of national unity.

“The Chief Adviser in his speech undoubtedly spoke about the very purpose for which their government was formed,” Fakhrul said. “They assumed responsibility at a time when, after a mass uprising, there was a vacuum in the country. Political parties and students together entrusted them with that responsibility.”

Reviewing the government’s performance over the past year, the BNP leader said Yunus’ speech highlighted efforts to stabilise both the economy and the political landscape, which had been in crisis.

“He explained how his government began its work and attempted to revive the economy while also addressing the longstanding demand for political reforms,” Fakhrul said.

He pointed out that the BNP had long called for such reforms. “Our leader Begum Khaleda Zia put forward Vision 2030 in 2016, which called for structural and political reforms. And in 2022, our leader Tarique Rahman announced a 31-point programme focusing on reforming both the state structure and the economy.”

Fakhrul stressed that the damage caused under the previous Awami League government had made fundamental change essential. “Without changing the structure of the state on the one hand and the economic framework on the other, it would be difficult to push the nation forward,” he said. “That is the work they have started. Today he placed those issues before the nation as well as before the global forum of the United Nations.”

The BNP secretary general welcomed Yunus’ inclusive approach to governance and diplomacy, particularly his decision to bring opposition political parties into the government’s activities and include them in the UNGA delegation.

“We are very happy that, for the first time, he brought opposition political parties into the work of the government and took them along to the United Nations,” Fakhrul said. “His main objective was to express the unity of the nation. I think this is a unique effort and extremely necessary in Bangladesh’s context. That is why we have extended our full cooperation, and our leader Tarique Rahman supported it.”

Asked about Jamaat-e-Islami’s recent campaign advocating proportional representation (PR), Fakhrul clarified BNP’s position. “We have clearly said we are not in favor of PR in the lower house, nor have we spoken in favor of PR in the upper house,” he said, adding that such issues could be addressed through dialogue in due course.

SMS/