Dhaka, May 23 -- BNP leader Zainul Abedin Farroque has pointed to delays in announcing a timeline for the national election as the main reason behind simmering political tensions in the country.

"There seems to be a growing sense of instability in the country. Who is behind this unrest? Who is trying to delay the election? We wanted to know these things from a respected figure like you [Chief Advisor] Muhammad Yunus," he said at a protest rally on Friday.

"We heard you [Yunus] said the election will be held in July. Whether it's July or December, if you had just given a roadmap, those of us who led the movement, who were imprisoned during [ousted prime minister Sheikh] Hasina's rule, who faced thousands of cases, could have sat with you...