Jatiya Oikyafront leaders want to meet President Abdul Hamid and seek his intervention to improve the current political situation in the run-up to the December 30 polls.
On Thursday, the party sent a letter in this regard to the Bangabhaban which sought an appointment with the president for the leaders of Oikyafront -- alliance of the BNP and several other opposition parties -- on December 17, alliance sources said.
A 10-member delegation, led by Oikyafront's top leader Dr Kamal Hossain, also the president of Gonoforum, will meet the president if they get the appointment, the sources added.
"We will draw his [president] attention to the continued attacks on opposition candidates and activists during electioneering and the mass arrest of opposition activists. We will seek his intervention to improve the situation," Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the Oikyafront, told The Daily Star yesterday.
The BNP and the Jatiya Oikyafront have been accusing the government of using law enforcement agencies to arrest and harass their nominees, leaders and activists across the country.
Since the announcement of the election schedule, the BNP has kept lodging complaints with the Election Commission (EC) seeking its action to stop the arrests and harassment.
But according to opposition leaders, this has not helped improve the situation.
Against this backdrop, the Oikyafront leaders have decided to meet the president, who they think can play a significant role in advising the EC to take necessary measures to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, party leaders said referring to section 5 (2) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
The section 5 (2) of the RPO says: "All executive authorities of the government shall assist the commission in the performance of its functions, and for this purpose the president may, after consultation with the commission, issue such directions as he may consider necessary."
Jatiya Oikyafront leaders want to meet President Abdul Hamid and seek his intervention to improve the current political situation in the run-up to the December 30 polls.
On Thursday, the party sent a letter in this regard to the Bangabhaban which sought an appointment with the president for the leaders of Oikyafront -- alliance of the BNP and several other opposition parties -- on December 17, alliance sources said.
A 10-member delegation, led by Oikyafront's top leader Dr Kamal Hossain, also the president of Gonoforum, will meet the president if they get the appointment, the sources added.
"We will draw his [president] attention to the continued attacks on opposition candidates and activists during electioneering and the mass arrest of opposition activists. We will seek his intervention to improve the situation," Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the Oikyafront, told The Daily Star yesterday.
The BNP and the Jatiya Oikyafront have been accusing the government of using law enforcement agencies to arrest and harass their nominees, leaders and activists across the country.
Since the announcement of the election schedule, the BNP has kept lodging complaints with the Election Commission (EC) seeking its action to stop the arrests and harassment.
But according to opposition leaders, this has not helped improve the situation.
Against this backdrop, the Oikyafront leaders have decided to meet the president, who they think can play a significant role in advising the EC to take necessary measures to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, party leaders said referring to section 5 (2) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
The section 5 (2) of the RPO says: "All executive authorities of the government shall assist the commission in the performance of its functions, and for this purpose the president may, after consultation with the commission, issue such directions as he may consider necessary."
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The Awami League-led Grand Alliance will win the upcoming general election with a two-third majority, the party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.
The ruling party leader and contesting for Noakhali-5 constituency said this during an electioneering programme at Bashurhat HSC Govt High School ground in Companiganj upazila this noon.
“Sheikh Hasina is being praised by the entire world today. The mass public support generated in favour of ‘boat’ symbol from Sunamganj to the Sundarbans and from Tentulia to Kutubdia, it is apparent that the Grand Alliance, led by Sheikh Hasina, will defeat the evil, communal forces and win the December 30 polls with a two-third majority,” Quader said.
Expressing concern that the “evil, communal forces” may launch attacks at the polling centres, he said they would have to be resisted from the beginning of voting till the end of vote counting on the polls day.
“Oikyafront will try different tricks and instigations to thwart the polls. Beware of their trap and work on for the next three days for holding the election with patience,” Quader called upon the leaders and activists of his party.
Mentioning that Sheikh Hasina has given respect to the women, he said “Women have risen in support of Awami League. Youths have raised their voice in digital Bangladesh.”
“Women and youth will be the driving force for the victory of Awami League,” Quader added.
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"We must work together with the new generation, prioritise the aspirations of the people to build a democratic, just, and equitable Bangladesh."
— Dr Kamal Hossain
Constitutional reforms should be done after taking people's opinions into account, said Dr Kamal Hossain, one of the framers of the constitution.
"No individual should change it [constitution] with the stroke of a pen," he said at a discussion yesterday.
"If a person, even if it is the president, feels that something is wrong, it would not be appropriate for them to change it single-handedly. They should proceed with amending the constitution only when a strong consensus or majority opinion has been established," Dr Kamal said.
Bangladesh Democratic Lawyers' Association organised the event to mark the day the constitution was adopted 52 years ago.
"We noticed that 15 to 16 amendments were made to the constitution. It was done from the realisation that it is made by human beings. The provision which was deemed right 10 years ago might create problems in a changed scenario. Then the constitution can be amended. But the people have to be taken on board to do that.
Dr Kamal, also the emeritus president of Gono Forum, said the reforms should be done with an aim to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
"We must work together with the new generation, prioritise the aspirations of the people to build a democratic, just, and equitable Bangladesh. Our commitment is to ensure a nation free from discrimination, where no one faces inequality based on gender, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, or any other identity. All constitutional reforms must be made with this objective in mind."
He said people must remain vigilant about how the constitution is being interpreted, whether it is being interpreted correctly or misinterpreted.
The constitution is a document that is interpreted by people. Even the court interprets it, and the court can also make mistakes. The chief justice himself may err, he said.
Addressing the event, eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik criticised frequent changes in the form of the government.
"We formed 11 different types of governments in 52 years. Problems may arise in running a state, but the way we changed the form of the government is like changing a car because a tyre got punctured," he said.
Malik said it was a manifestation of the nation's immaturity regarding state operations.
"If we face any issue, we seek a solution only by changing the form of government. No one in the world does that, but it has become ingrained in us. And we think it is the only solution," he said.
Eminent historian Prof Syed Anwar Hossain said the current government has no right to amend the constitution since it was not elected. This government can only recommend amendments that have to be made by an elected government.
"There is no provision for an interim government in the constitution. We got an unelected government after ousting the autocratic regime."
The court validated the current government under the doctrine of necessity.
Prof Anwar alleged that although the supreme court is the custodian of the constitution, it failed to play its role. "The court followed the government's order and has been doing so."
He opined that prime ministers should not serve more than two terms.
Speaking at the programme, Supreme Court Bar Association President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon said the debate over whether to amend the constitution or write a new one was dividing the nation.
"If any amendment is made or the constitution is rewritten, who will approve it? The last parliament? That's not possible. The future parliament? What if it does not approve it? So, it'll only widen the split," he said.
He also said a consensus should be reached through discussions with political parties that the amendments will be made when they are voted to power.
Among others, Bangladesh Democratic Lawyers' Association President Subrata Chowdhury, General Secretary Zahidul Bari, senior lawyer Mohiuddin Abdul Kader, and SMA Sabur spoke at the programme.
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Just days ahead of the 11th national elections, Election Commissioner Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury today said “situation is under control”.
He came up with the remark in response to a query by reporters at the Election Commission in Dhaka’s Agargaon this afternoon.
Shahadat’s comment comes a day after Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar expressed grave concern over the ongoing spate of violence ahead of the polls scheduled to be held on December 30.
Hoping for a free, fair and peaceful election, Shahadat said, “I admit that anxiety grew among people centering the election. I want to term it political heat”.
He said he did not think that the situation was deteriorating ahead of the polls.
WHAT DID ELECTION COMMISSIONER MAHBUB SAY YESTERDAY?
Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder expressed grave concern over the recent incidents of violence.
Saying that violence and election cannot go hand in hand, he added,“If we cannot hold a peaceful election in a violence-free environment after 47 years of independence, the sacrifice of 30 lakh martyrs for independence and democracy will go in vain. We cannot allow this to happen.”
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Alleging mass discrimination to push it out of election, major political opposition Jatiya Oikyafront says it is now depending on the vote of the people.
“It's too apparent, the arrangement is complete to oust Oikyafront from the election,” Dr Kamal Hossain, key leader of the alliance, said in a press statement.
He alleged that the government had made “the arrangement” by pulling strings of the administration, judiciary, law enforcers, goons and the Election Commission.
“At this point, the people's vote is our hope. Voters never made a mistake in the past and they never will,” Kamal said.
He hoped that people would unite and overcome all challenges to appear for voting at the centres during the election on Sunday.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over Kamal's safety, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday offered to provide security for him.
Kamal, also the convener of Jatiya Oikyafront, however said he will seek police security only if he feels the need for it.
Some DMP mid rank officials went to Kamal's chamber in Dhaka's Motijheel to discuss “security issues” around 12:10pm yesterday.
Prior to the meeting, several police teams took position in front of the chamber.
The meeting took place a day after a Jatiya Oikyafront delegation, led by Kamal, walked out of a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda following a heated exchange over the role of police during electioneering.
After meeting with the DMP, Kamal told reporters that the police officials said they would take security measures for him at both his house and chamber if needed.
“They even said they would provide transport security,” Kamal said.
Even though the DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia was supposed to meet Kamal, he could not go due to some other commitment and sent his apologies, he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Division Anwar Hossain claimed that Kamal has expressed satisfaction over the security measures taken for him by law enforcers.
“We're here as part of our regular duty. We had an open discussion and wanted to know if he [Kamal] has any observations regarding his security and he said he'll inform us over phone if he notices anything,” Anwar said.
Responding to a question on whether the alliance would stay in the election, Kamal said, “We have to hold on to this. So that they [rivals] cannot say that we moved away. This is our right. Why should we move away? If they make it impossible at the end of the day, then people will see.”
He also said, “The government's actions are casting doubt regarding the credibility and fairness of the polls.”
Meanwhile Bangladesh Police Service Association protested a comment about police made by Kamal during Tuesday's meeting with the CEC.
“His comment was motivated, objectionable and inconsiderate,” they said in a statement.
Kamal, at the meeting, had said some police officials were “acting like beasts".
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Dr Kamal Hossain today called upon all to take to the streets to bring down the government instead of just holding indoor meetings.
“No more indoor meetings. We will unite and take to the streets to keep the movement going,” said Dr Kamal Hossain, Jatiya Oikyafront convener, while speaking at a meeting demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release on the occasion of the second anniversary of her imprisonment.
The meeting was organised by Oikyafront at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Khaleda was sent to jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8, 2018.
He said they are tolerating a farce in the name of election. “Unelected people usurped power and are ruling the country. People will not accept that,” said Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum.
“A government should be formed through a free and fair election. A party that secures majority [votes] in a real election should form the government. Raising demands of resignation are not enough. Rather the government should be brought down. People who are owners of the country should act as true owners,” Dr Kamal said.
The Jatiya Oikyafront top leader said that if people are deprived of freedom they become victims of corruption and looting. “None can give autocracy an institutional shape. People who had tried faced dire consequences,” he added.
He said that celebrating 50 years of independence, while depriving people of their rights, is nothing but a farce.
Speaking about Khaleda Zia, Dr Kamal Hossain said, “The term political prisoner sounds strange 48 years after independence. It is unimaginable that demand of release of Khaleda Zia need to be placed and meetings are held for that.”
BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan urged all to unite and wage a movement to oust the government.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rab at the programme cautioned the government that if they want to leave power peacefully, they have to release Khaleda Zia.
Oikyafront leader and Gonoshasthaya Kendra trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury opined that it would not be wise to take part in the any elections without the release of Khaleda Zia.
Among others, Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gonoforum executive president Subrata Chowdhury and Bikalpadhara president Nurul Amin also spoke at the programme.
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