No objection to new poll timeframe if July Charter announced: NCP

NCP Convener Nahid Islam has said the party has no objection to the new poll timeframe anounced by the chief adviser if "level-playing field" is ensured for all political parties and the "July Charter" is declared.

The young leader made the remarks when expressing the party's initial reaction to the updated poll timeframe during a conversation with a private news channel.

On Friday night, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus announced the 13th parliamentary elections would be held on any day during 1-15 April 2026.

Nahid said the party wanted the announcement of July Declaration and July Charter first before specifics on the election date.

However, it is understandable that the government had to prioritise resolving confusions over the election date, Nahid said.

The July Charter is the blueprint for state reform measures being endorsed by all the political parties in a bid to sustainably prevent the return of authoritarian rule in the country.

The July Declaration amounts to the Constitutional recognition of all the martyrs of last year's anti-fascist uprising.

In a separate reaction, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said actions must be taken before the elections to ensure the gradual implementation of agreed upon state reform measures.

Sarjis Alam, another key NCP leader, said there will be no compromise on the issue of "level-playing field" during elections.

In a facebook post, Sarjis said all the poll-centric essential reform measures must be completed beforehand to convincingly put an end to the dark history of intimidating practices and black money splurge.

After more than a decade of illegal elections and July-August uprising, there is no scope to tolerate power abuse, flexing of muscles and criminal use of money, Sarjis warned. It must be ensured that authorities treat all political parties, big or small, the same way, he said.

During polls, different candidates deploy huge amounts of money, many with dubious origins, to buy off polling staff, law enforcers, administrative workers and voters as well as to finance intimidating terrorist activities.