No alliance with BNP if Jamaat's there

There will be no political alliance with the BNP if the party keeps Jamaat-e-Islami in the combine, said Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday.

The eminent jurist also stressed on “joint leadership” for the alliance to be.

“The process [of forming the alliance] has already started. Let's see. We want a bigger alliance, but we don't want the anti-liberation forces in it,” he said at a press conference organised by his party at the Jatiya Press Club.

Except Jamaat, all are urged to join in efforts to forge an alliance for the sake of fair polls and establishment of constitutional rule, said Dr Kamal, also president of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, a platform of citizens.

“They [Jamaat] can be in the 20-party alliance [led by BNP], but they are not supposed to be with us. There is no possibility to form an alliance with Jamaat.

“We assume the BNP will form the alliance leaving Jamaat. They [BNP] know what is our position,” said Dr Kamal.

Replying to a query about the BNP's ties with Jamaat, he said, “Our party will not form the alliance with Jamaat in it. I don't know whether other parties will do it or not. I didn't do it in my entire life. Why should I do it in the end?”

He also described Jamaat as a non-political party as its registration had been cancelled.

After the press conference, journalists asked him who would lead the alliance if it was formed. He said, “We will forge the alliance together. I would say that the leadership should be a joint kind.

“I sincerely believe in joint leadership. I don't even want that the leadership would be mine only.”

Recently, Dr Kamal, who leads Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, who leads Juktofront, held several meetings to forge a greater unity.

BNP leaders said their party was ready to make “sacrifices” to forge the national unity.

As part of the efforts, Dr Kamal announced that his party would hold a rally on September 22 at Mohanagar Natya Mancha in the capital's Gulistan.

CONCERNED ABOUT DETENTION

Speaking at the briefing, Dr Kamal expressed concern over the recent detention of opposition party leaders and activists as well as students.

“Some law enforcers in plainclothes pick up people without arrest warrants and it has become a matter of concern. The concern grows when they [law enforcers] deny it.”

Terming such incidents a violation of the country's existing law, Dr Kamal said the government is supposed to discharge its duty obeying the law, which does not support picking up of anyone without warrants.

“If such incidents happened in one or two cases, we would think that it might happen in some particular cases. But it is happening regularly now. Law is being violated regularly,” he said, urging the government to stop this. 

“If the government doesn't use its power as per the constitution, it is using the power illegally.”

The government is supposed to maintain a peaceful environment for the upcoming national election so that all political parties can participate without fear, but it is doing just the opposite, he alleged.

The eminent jurist said there was no reason now to try BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Old Dhaka Central Jail.

Criticising the government for not allowing her to have treatment at a specialised hospital, Dr Kamal urged the government to do so.