BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas has strongly criticized Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus for his recent comments at the Nikkei Forum in Japan, accusing him of tarnishing the image of the BNP and the country while abroad. Speaking to journalists on Friday after paying tribute to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at his grave in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Abbas expressed disappointment over Dr Yunus’s remarks.“It is with great sorrow that I must say this; today, Dr Yunus, sitting in Japan, is defaming the BNP. Isn’t he ashamed to sit abroad and badmouth the country? He said, one party only wants elections. But we want to say, it’s not a party that wants elections, it’s one man who doesn’t want elections, and that is Dr Yunus.” Abbas, a former minister, accused the current government of undermining national sovereignty by bringing in foreign consultants under the guise of reforms. “Ziaur Rahman implemented many reforms but never brought in foreign advisors. In contrast, this government has imported foreign consultants and now appears reluctant to hold elections,” he said.

He also pointed out that Dr Yunus had previously proposed holding national elections by December 2025, even before the BNP did. “It was his timeline. Later, he shifted the proposal to June. If elections are not held by December, Dr Yunus must take full responsibility,” Abbas asserted.

Warning of serious consequences, Abbas added: “Elections must be conducted by December. If not, the people of Bangladesh will rise to claim their right to vote. Failure to hold elections could endanger the country’s geographical stability.”

Senior BNP leaders including Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Salah Uddin Ahmed, and Dr AZM Zahid Hossain were also present at the event.