BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has rejected a proposal by National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, who suggested that elections for both the Constituent Assembly and the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) could be held concurrently.

Speaking at an Iftar Mahfil hosted by Khelafat Majlis at a hotel in Purana Paltan on Saturday, Salahuddin Ahmed made it clear: “Our stance is firm—there will be no national unity regarding the simultaneous holding of constituent assembly and parliamentary elections. As a representative of a major political party, I can unequivocally state that the general elections are paramount and must remain our top priority.”

In an interview with international news agency Reuters earlier this week, NCP convener Nahid Islam proposed holding elections for both the Constituent Assembly and the National Parliament at the same time. He suggested that the creation of a new constitution through the Constituent Assembly would be essential to the country’s transition to a truly democratic system.

Referring to the recent interview, Salahuddin Ahmed responded critically, stating, “Yesterday, I came across a new proposal from our emerging political allies. However, politics operates with its own specific terms, its own rules. The suggestion that elections for both the Constituent Assembly and the National Assembly could be held simultaneously, based on national consensus, doesn’t fit into the established political framework.”

Elaborating further, Salahuddin Ahmed explained, “A Constituent Assembly is exclusively tasked with drafting the constitution of a state, while a National Assembly holds the power to amend that constitution in its entirety. Some are now discussing broad amendments, essentially creating a new constitution. If they want to call it that, we have no objection. But we must refrain from distorting the language—using terms inaccurately that have no place in the political lexicon.”

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Naib-e-Ameer, Mujibur Rahman, also attended the Iftar Mahfil and used the occasion to criticize certain political factions. He remarked, “After the hard-won victory in the anti-fascist movement, a victory secured through countless sacrifices, it is deeply troubling that some individuals are now aligning themselves with statements that favor the fascist government.”

Mujibur Rahman urged all Islamic parties to unite in pursuit of an Islamic state. He called on those who support Islamic governance to work together to implement the teachings of the Quran.

“Let us unite. Let us move forward towards the goal of establishing an Islamic state. We must all work together to implement the provisions of the Quran,” Mujibur Rahman said.

The event saw the participation of leaders from different political parties, including Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, AB Party chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju, Jatiya Party (Kazi Jafar) secretary general Ahsan Habib Linkon, State Reform Movement chief coordinator Hasnat Abdul Qayyum, Islami Andolan presidium member Syed Mosaddek Billah, Gono Odhikar Parishad general secretary Rashed Khan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) secretary general Shahiduddin Mahmud, Jatiya Gonotantrik Party vice president Rashed Pradhan, Bangladesh NAP secretary general Golam Mortuza, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis secretary general Jalaluddin Ahmed, and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan Ameer Abu Jafar Qashemi.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secretary general Redwan Ahmed, Bangladesh Labour Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, National Citizen Party (NCP) senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, Islami Andolan presidium member Ashraf Ali Akon, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam vice president Abdur Rab Yusufi, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam secretary general Manjurul Islam Afendi, and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) chairman AKM Anwarul Islam also attended the event.

Several distinguished guests were present at the Mahfil, including Lt. General (Retd.) Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy, Journalists’ Welfare Trust Managing Director M Abdullah, and Supreme Court Bar Association acting general secretary Mahfuzur Rahman.

The Iftar gathering was hosted by Khilafat Majlis secretary general Ahmed Abdul Quader, who welcomed the invited guests. Before the iftar, Party Ameer Abdul Basit Azad led the prayers.