DHAKA: The Bangladesh Nationalist Social gathering (BNP) on Saturday stated that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ suggestion to set the minimal voting age at 17 would put strain on the Election Fee and will delay the election course of. Yunus, 84, who was sworn-in to guide the interim authorities after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August, on Friday urged that the minimal voter age ought to be lowered to 17 years, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
In a video message performed in an election dialogue, Yunus stated, “To provide their (youth) opinion on their very own future, I believe the voting age for them ought to be mounted at 17 years.” BNP secretary normal Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, throughout a dialogue on the Jatiya Press Membership right here, stated the chief adviser’s suggestion to decrease the voting age to 17 means a brand new voter record must be ready.
“Now, individuals will worry that much more time can be wasted and additional delays will happen,” he was quoted as saying. Alamgir stated there’s an impression among the many folks that the interim authorities is intentionally making an attempt to delay the election course of. “However that’s not my notion,” he added. The BNP chief stated the chief adviser mustn’t have raised the problem with out first consulting the stakeholders.
“You’re the chief government, and also you stated that 17 years is healthier. If you say this, it turns into binding on the Election Fee,” he stated. Alamgir stated the federal government ought to have left the matter to the Election Fee, permitting it to decide.
He stated that the present minimal age of 18 for changing into a voter is appropriate to all. “If you wish to cut back it by one yr, then let the brand new Election Fee suggest it and interact in discussions with the political events,” the BNP chief stated.
Throughout his Victory Day speech on December 16, Yunus indicated that elections may be held by early 2026. “Broadly talking, the election could be scheduled between the top of 2025 and the primary half of 2026,” he stated. Yunus stated that the elections can be held after updating the voters’ record.
