Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday said the upcoming national election, scheduled for next February, is not just an ordinary election but a “foundational election” that will determine the future course of Bangladesh.

“Therefore, keeping the election in mind, we must finalise the basic reforms. At the same time, we must remember that we have no alternative to holding elections in the first half of February," he said.

The chief adviser made the remarks at a meeting of the National Consensus Commission.

He chaired the meeting held at the State Guest House Jamuna in the evening.

Prof Yunus said reform is one of the three main mandates of the current interim government.

Therefore, he said, the issue of the July Charter must be viewed with equal importance as elections and justice.

The two-hour meeting discussed in detail the Consensus Commission's proposals for the implementation of the July Charter and the proposals of the political parties in this regard.

The Commission members said that the commission will submit its report to the interim government very soon.

The National Consensus Commission will meet again with the political parties next Sunday to take this issue forward.

The proposals of the six-member committee formed to implement the July Charter were also highlighted in the meeting.

Salahuddin warns of election challenges for lack of consensus

On behalf of the Commission, Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz, Commission members Justice Md. Emdadul Haque, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman,  Badiul Alam Majumder, Md. Ayub Mia and Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Monir Haider were present at the meeting.

On the other hand, interim government advisers Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Asif Nazrul, Syeda Rizwana Hasan and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman were present.