Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is holding talks with representatives of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP) in the wake of the shooting attack on Osman Hadi, an election hopeful and convener of Inquilab Mancha.

The meeting began around 11:15am on Saturday at the State Guest House Jamuna.

An official from the Chief Advisor’s Office said each party was represented by two members.

The BNP delegation includes Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and retired Army major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

Jamaat is being represented by its Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, while the NCP delegation includes its Convener Nahid Islam and Chief Organiser for the Southern Region Hasnat Abdullah.

The talks follow Friday’s shooting of Hadi, a prospective independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, in the Bijoynagar area.

The incident occurred shortly after Hadi had completed a campaign event at a mosque in Motijheel and was travelling by battery-powered rickshaw with colleagues towards Suhrawardy Udyan for lunch.

Police say an assailant riding pillion on a motorcycle opened fire at the moving rickshaw, hitting Hadi in the head.

He was initially taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors carried out emergency brain surgery. He was later transferred to Evercare Hospital, where doctors described his condition as critical.

Later on Friday, Yunus held an emergency meeting with members of the Advisory Council and senior law enforcement officials, describing the attack as one of the most serious incidents during the interim government’s tenure.

He said the assault was a premeditated attempt to undermine Bangladesh’s democratic process and warned that authorities would not tolerate efforts to destabilise the country or derail the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum.

“No matter what challenges come, no force will be able to derail the election,” he said.

The parties agreed to hold an all-party meeting in the next few days under the initiative of Inquilab Mancha to protest what they described as the heinous attack, the statement said. 

Party leaders also called for closer coordination to avoid divisions within what they described as anti-fascist political unity, and urged strict drives to recover illegal weapons ahead of elections. 

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed emphasised unity, saying political parties must refrain from blaming each other and raise a united voice against the conspiracy, while also calling for intensified drives to recover illegal arms and act against those responsible. 

Jamaat leader Mia Golam Parwar warned that recent statements had fuelled mutual blame and created opportunities for opponents, urging parties to reaffirm commitments and avoid rhetoric that divides the nation. 

Nahid Islam said organised efforts had targeted the July Uprising since it began, including what he described as campaigns across media and different levels of the administration. He also alleged attempts to portray those involved in the uprising as criminals while normalising the Awami League and Jatiya Party, and said political forces must collectively “own” July. 

Hasnat Abdullah said no security measures would prove effective if political forces failed to remain united, and accused parties of creating openings for the Awami League for narrow political interests. 

The CA urged vigilance and said everyone must ensure conflicts do not spread among themselves. Asif Nazrul said the Awami League gained strength after divisions emerged among political parties, and urged leaders to stay alert not only about party interests but also national interests.