B Chowdhury, Dr Kamal to continue nat'l unity efforts

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain and former president AQM Badrudozza Chowdhury are going to announce their pledge today to continue their efforts to forge a “greater national unity” to press home a five-point demand, including formation of a non-party polls-time government.

At a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, they will also present a nine-point objective.

“An unelected government without any public support is in power now. They are clinging to power by carrying out terrorist activities, arrests, filing false cases and using the police administration,” according to an announcement finalised by Jatiya Oikya Pokriya and Juktofront.

The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the announcement.

“There is no alternative to forge a greater unity if the country and its people are to get rid of such a situation and effective democracy, rule of law and impartial enforcement of law have to be ensured in the country,” it read.

Led by Bikalpadhara Bangladesh chief Badrudozza, the Juktofront alliance is comprised of ASM Abdur Rob's Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Mahmudur Rahman Manna's Nagorik Oikya. Gonoforum President Dr Kamal is leading the other platform, Jatiya Oikya Pokriya.

Their demands include dissolution of parliament before the announcement of the polls schedule for creating a level playing field, ensuring freedom of expression and reconstitution of the Election Commission with acceptable persons through talks to hold a free, fair and neutral parliamentary election.

The two political platforms will seek withdrawal of “false cases” against the leaders and activists of quota reform and road safety movements and release of all the detained political leaders.

They will also press for deployment of army with magistracy power one month ahead of the national polls and not using Electronic Voting Machine in the polls.

Their nine-point objective include decentralisation of power, bringing balance of power between the prime minister and the president, ensuring effective independence of judiciary, appointment of an ombudsman and amendment to article 70 of the constitution.

Contacted, Dr Kamal yesterday said, “We have agreed on some issues to forge a greater unity and we will make an announcement tomorrow [today]. We want the country to be run in light of the constitution and these things will be in our announcement.”

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikya, said they agreed to work together and forge a greater unity.

Earlier, the BNP drafted a 15-point proposal for forging a greater unity. Party leaders said it would send the proposal to other political parties for their consideration.