Dhaka, Jan 23 (PTI) Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Thursday urged the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to perform its duties impartially, alleging that it failed to maintain neutrality on some issues.

Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel laureate, assumed the role of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser in August last year after then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country following weeks of protests led by students over a controversial quota system in government jobs.

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"On Wednesday, in an interview, I said if the interim government can't remain impartial, a neutral government will be required during the elections. There is a reason for making this statement. We observe that the interim government is unable to maintain neutrality on several issues," Fakhrul was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.

Addressing an event here, the BNP leader urged the interim government to carry out its responsibilities impartially and address the problems faced by the country.

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Fakhrul said the government should hold the election as soon as possible after carrying out the necessary minimum reforms.

"The government formed through election would be able to fulfill the commitments made to people and work to meet the public's aspirations," he said.

The BNP leader warned that evil forces may exploit the situation if the election is delayed.

He also said all political parties agree on the necessity of holding elections, as it is the gateway to the democratic system.

Fakhrul stated that some people are saying the government should hold the election only after reforms. "But, should we wait four to five years or until the reforms are completed?" he asked.

Bangladesh Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday said that the general elections will be held on the timeline set by the interim government, asserting his commitment to free and fair polls.

His comments came days after the BNP demanded that the general election be held by July or August of this year.

Last month, Yunus said that the next election could take place by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026. He added that the timing of the election would largely depend upon the political consensus and the extent of the reforms. PTI

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)