BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has dismissed suggestions that the forthcoming parliamentary election, scheduled for February, should be postponed due to the illness of party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Speaking at an event in Dhaka on Friday evening, he insisted that the two issues are entirely unrelated and that Khaleda Zia herself has always been one of the strongest advocates for timely, democratic elections in Bangladesh.
Addressing a discussion at the Krishibid Institute in the capital, Amir Khasru said, “The election stands in its own place. The illness of Begum Khaleda Zia has no connection whatsoever with the timing of the polls. If there is anyone who truly wants a free and fair election in Bangladesh—one that reinstates democratic governance—it is none other than Begum Khaleda Zia.”
He emphasised that Khaleda Zia has consistently fought for democratic order, the restoration of people’s voting rights and the establishment of an accountable government. According to him, her physical condition cannot be used as an excuse by any quarter to alter the electoral schedule. Rather, he argued, it highlights her lifelong commitment to democratic principles.
Referring to concerns that her illness may influence the political environment, Khasru firmly rejected such claims. He noted, “Her health condition will not affect the upcoming election. Throughout her political life, her priority has always been to ensure that the people of Bangladesh can elect their own government through the ballot box.”
He further revealed that all formal procedures for sending the BNP chairperson abroad for specialised medical treatment have already been completed. “Every preparation for Begum Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad is now in place,” he said. “Once the medical board gives final approval, she will be taken to London. But this preparation does not in any way relate to the postponement of the election.”
Khasru added that regardless of her physical state, Khaleda Zia remains unwavering in her belief that the people must regain their democratic ownership of the state. “Wherever she is, in whatever condition she may be, she will always want the people of Bangladesh to elect their parliament and government freely. Restoring democratic norms has always been her guiding principle,” he said.
He criticised attempts by certain political groups to link her illness with the national polls, describing such claims as unfounded and politically motivated. “Those asking why the election should not be delayed must explain where this question is coming from,” he remarked. “No part of the election process depends on her personal health.”
Khasru reiterated that the fundamental demand of Khaleda Zia—and the BNP—is that the people must be allowed to vote without interference, intimidation or manipulation. He stressed that Khaleda Zia has always championed the return of democratic order and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Concluding his remarks, he stated that the BNP chairperson’s medical challenges do not alter the political reality: the nation deserves a credible election, and that responsibility lies with the state, not with the personal health of any individual.