A highly anticipated meeting between Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, scheduled for June 13 in London, could mark a significant turning point in resolving Bangladesh’s ongoing political crisis, according to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The dialogue, set to take place between 9:00am and 11:00am London time at the hotel where Yunus is staying, has sparked optimism within the BNP for a potential breakthrough in the country’s polarised political landscape. Speaking to reporters after exchanging Eid greetings at the BNP chairperson’s office in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Tuesday, Fakhrul described the meeting as a “major political event” with “immense potential” to address critical issues.
“This meeting holds a lot of possibilities and dimensions,” he said, emphasising its significance both nationally and internationally. “We hope it will play a positive role in resolving the challenges facing Bangladesh’s political landscape.”
The meeting comes at a time of heightened tension between the interim government and the BNP, particularly over the timing of the 13th parliamentary election.
Yunus recently announced that the polls would be held in the first half of April 2026, a timeline the BNP opposes, demanding elections by December 2025. Despite the lack of a specific agenda for the meeting, Fakhrul expressed hope that the dialogue could lead to solutions for “many issues” and open “new dimensions” in the political discourse.
Fakhrul revealed that Tarique, despite being physically unwell, chaired a BNP Standing Committee meeting to discuss the upcoming talks. The committee welcomed the formal invitation extended by Yunus, viewing the meeting as a critical opportunity.
“We have given full authority to our acting chairman to make decisions during the meeting,” Fakhrul said, adding that the party has prayed for Tarique’s success.
Speculation about a possible meeting began circulating when Yunus’s UK tour was announced, though it was not initially part of his official itinerary.
On June 9, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told a television channel that a meeting with Tarique, a leader of a major political party, would send a “positive message” for Bangladesh.
The confirmation followed a Facebook post by Maruf Kamal Khan, former press secretary of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, hinting at the possibility.
Yunus departed Dhaka for London on Monday evening, arriving at Heathrow Airport around 12:30 pm Bangladesh time on Tuesday.
During his four-day visit, he is expected to discuss repatriating laundered money, attracting investment in renewable energy, and other topics with UK authorities.
Fakhrul underscored the meeting’s potential to ease political tensions, saying, “If this meeting is held, many problems can be solved, and many things can become easier.”
He added that the outcome would depend on how Yunus and Tarique choose to advance the possibilities.
“This is the most important event in this period,” Fakhrul said, reflecting the high stakes attached to the dialogue.