'Greater nat'l unity begins'
Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Juktafront and Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya yesterday formally announced forging of a “greater national unity” to ensure that people elect their representatives through a fair election.
The national unity also aims at ensuring a functional democracy in the country.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Dr Kamal, convener of the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, made the announcement at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club.
“We the Juktafront and the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya are announcing a joint declaration of a greater national unity which will unite people of all walks of life. We'll forge unity at every locality, every village and every house so that people can get back the ownership of the country,” said the eminent jurist.
“The greater national unity begins today [Saturday]. I hope our unity will yield positive outcome with the support of the people, and a functional democracy will be restored in the country.
“We want people's real representatives to be elected through a free and fair election to run the country,” he added.
Juktafront Member-Secretary and Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, on behalf of the two platforms, read out the joint declaration of the “national unity” with a five-point demand and nine targets.
The joint declaration was signed by Badruddoza Chowdhury and Dr Kamal.
The demands include formation of a neutral government to ensure level playing field for all the parties after dissolution of parliament before the announcement of the election schedule. The alliance also wants the polls-time government to be formed in consultation with all political parties. Besides, members of the election-time government must not contest the election.
They also demand constitution of a new Election Commission with acceptable persons after discussions with all the political parties; and allowing the media to exercise freedom of expression and the political parties the full right to hold rallies.
The alliance also wants the government to withdraw the “false cases” filed against leaders and activists of all political parties and the quota reform and road safety protesters.
In addition, they demanded army deployment in each constituency and allowing the Election Commission to exercise full authority over law enforcement agencies during the election period.
The nine-point targets include bringing balance of power between the PM and the President to get rid of “autocratic rule” of one person.
Juktafront Chairman Badruddoza Chowdhury, also chairman of Bikolpodhara Bangladesh (BDB), was not present at the programme. He fell sick suddenly on the way to the Press Club and went back home, organisers said.
BDB Secretary General Maj (retd) MA Mannan and the party's Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury, Badruddoza's son, also did not come.
MA Mannan is abroad now, said Jahangir Alam, press secretary to Prof B Chowdhury.
But he could not say why Mahi B Chowdhury did not show up.
Juktafront and Gonoforum leaders said they wanted to launch the formation of the “greater national unity” by placing floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar. But they couldn't do so as the Dhaka University authorities asked them not to.
Contacted, DU Proctor Prof Golam Rabbani said there was an admission test at the university yesterday. That is why they requested the leaders not to hold any programme on the campus so the admission test could be held smoothly.
Before the press conference, some leaders of Juktafront and Jatiya Oikya Prokriya marched towards the Central Shaheed Minar led by Dr Kamal Hossain. But they returned to the Press Club from the High Court intersection.
Asked about this, ASM Abdur Rob, chief of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a component of the Juktafront, said they came back to the Press Club without going to the Shaheed Minar to avoid any unwanted incident.
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, also a pro-BNP intellectual, JSD General Secretary Abdul Maleq Ratan, among others, were present.
Asked about their next course of action, Rob said they would like to hold a rally in Khulna on September 18 and in the capital's Mahanagar Natya Mancha on September 22.
Earlier on August 20, B Chowdhury and Dr Kamal announced that they would forge an alliance in the “interest of the nation”.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina welcomed the move.
The BNP too welcomed the new alliance and said they wanted to wage a movement against the government forging a greater unity with the Juktafront and the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.
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