BNP leaders welcomed Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus's announcement on the timeline of national elections but urged a clear and actionable roadmap.

While acknowledging the statement as a step forward, they said that vague ideas cannot replace a structured plan to ensure credible and participatory polls.

Speaking to The Daily Star, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, "What the chief adviser said about the timing of the election cannot be described as a roadmap. He [Yunus] has merely provided an idea of when the election might take place."

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, in reaction, expressed conditional support for the timeline.

Jamaat's Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said, "Despite our initial reluctance regarding the delay, we will remain patient as long as the chief adviser honours his commitment to hold the elections.

"In that case, we are ready to cooperate with him," he told The Daily Star.

Salahuddin Ahmed, another BNP standing committee member, urged the interim government to unveil a specific roadmap, including the date.

The party's Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf said the sooner the election is held, the better it will be for the interim government and the people of the country.

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, Prof Yunus delivered a total of five speeches, which BNP leaders criticised for lacking a clear election roadmap.

Some BNP leaders warned that delays could invite conspiracies and harm the election process.

"The country's economy is in a dire state and soaring commodity prices are suffocating people. Until an elected government is in place, these issues cannot be resolved," party's Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas told reporters after paying tribute to Ziaur Rahman on the occasion of Victory Day.

Attending a programme, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince said, "Wasting time in the name of reforms will only create opportunities for domestic and foreign conspirators."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Standing Committee member said, "Following Tarique Rahman's speech on Sunday, we are waiting for the government's response. Today, the chief adviser's speech provided an idea about the timing of the polls but did not specify a date or outline the process. Once our secretary general is fit, we will announce the party's stance."

Besides, in reaction to the chief adviser's speech, leaders of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Ganosamhati Andolon also said the announcement is an indication of progress, but it lacks clarity and details.

Rashed Khan, general secretary of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, said, "This is not a formal roadmap; it's merely a verbal timeframe addressed to the nation by the chief adviser today. It lacks a specific plan for the national election.

"In my opinion, this announcement seems more like a consolation statement for the political parties that have been demanding an election date or a concrete roadmap."

Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said, "In my view, it is a positive step. However, in his speech, he used terms like 'if,' 'but,' and 'maybe,' which failed to address the confusion surrounding the timing of the elections. At the very least, he could have announced a specific timeframe, such as a month, which was the expectation of the citizens. This expectation remained unfulfilled."

He further said, "...currently, we need only minimal reforms to conduct a national election. If they engage in discussions with political parties, it should be possible to hold a free and fair election by 2025, even after implementing necessary reforms."

The chief adviser and his advisory panel should take this route to eliminate all uncertainties, Ruhin added.

Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolon, said, "Primarily, we welcome the indication given by the chief adviser. We expect them to hold discussions with stakeholders and present a more specific roadmap."

"Such discussions with political stakeholders could help finalise the election dates, outline required reforms, and establish a detailed plan. It would also contribute to achieving political stability.