Kamal unwilling to contest polls

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain today reiterated that he would not contest the 11th parliamentary election on health ground.

“I have been saying since long that I would not contest the election considering my health condition,” Kamal, the key leader of the newly formed opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront, told The Daily Star this afternoon.

Earlier, the prominent jurist, at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka on October 22, said he does not have any desire to run for election or hold any public office.

He also said that he is happy to clarify for those who have been making virulent, baseless and persistent personal attacks on him.

He will continue to work for building a democratic, secular and pluralistic society, said Kamal on that day.

On October 13, the BNP and three other political parties, including the Gono Forum, formally launched the Jatiya Oikyafront for holding the 11th general election in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

WHAT WERE OIKYAFRONT’S GOALS, DEMANDS?

The 11-point goal announced by the alliance includes ensuring checks and balances in the state power, decentralisation of administration, freeing MPs from the stringent restrictions imposed on them under article 70 of the constitution, formation of a constitutional commission to make appointments to all constitutional and other important posts and full independence of the judiciary.

The alliance also announced a seven-point demand, including the one for holding the next parliamentary election under a nonpartisan government, dissolution of parliament before the polls and recasting the Election Commission.