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NCP Convener Nahid Islam said, “We told the EC that the election schedule should be announced when political stability prevails, and when every party has an environment within their organisations, as well as in the overall political arena, to begin their election campaigns. If the schedule is announced at such a time, it will benefit the EC and all political parties.”

Asked how the NCP now views the EC, given that the party had previously expressed distrust, Nahid said, “We still have concerns about the Election Commission. It was formed under the old law -- we objected to that. We had said it should be formed according to the proposed reforms. But we also want to move forward towards the election. Since the government has done this based on existing realities, we did not push this issue further.”

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary said, “Our uncompromising leader of democracy, Khaleda Zia, is ill. As a result, the political situation in Bangladesh is one of crisis. We are saying the schedule should be announced after overcoming these crises so that everyone can come on board and move toward the voting process.”

Asked if the NCP sought a delay in the election schedule from the EC, Patwary said, “No. Why would we want to delay the schedule? We are saying the schedule should be announced after resolving the crises.”