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Form poll-time neutral govt by Sept 30

Jatiya Oikya Prokriya leaders tell citizen rally


FE Report | September 23, 2018 00:00:00


Leaders of different parties including BNP holding hands to express solidarity at the citizens' rally organised by Jatiya Oikya Prokriya at Mahanagar Natyamancha in the city on Saturday — FE photo

Leaders of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya (national unity process) placed on Saturday three-point demand including formation of a poll-time neutral administration by September 30.

Two other demands are: dissolution of the parliament before announcing the election schedule and reform of the Election Commission.

"We will launch rallies across the country from October 01 if our demands are not met," Engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, read out an ultimatum on behalf of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.

He said they will form committees in different parts of the country as part of their movement for restoring democracy.

However, leaders of various political parties including BNP extended their support in building the national unity to restore people's voting rights to elect their representatives through a fair and participatory election.

Urging the people from all walks of life to respond to the call, they said no people's government can be established without such unity.

Terming the 'current state of government' autocratic, they said the ruling party should dissolve the current parliament and form an interim government through discussion with others before announcing the election schedule.

The call and demand were made at a citizen rally of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya held at Mohanagar Natyamancha in the capital.

Constitutional expert and Gono Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain moderated the programme.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir hailed the move of Dr Kamal Hossain in building the national unity.

"We move one step ahead with the gathering as far as the national unity is concerned. We need to further strengthen the process in the coming days for bringing back people's fundamental and democratic rights," he said.

Giving a statistics about the government's repression against his party men, he said a total of 3,676 cases were filed against 79,000 leaders and activists in the first 18 days of this month.

"If we can't establish a pro-people government, independence of the country will be at stake that we don't want," he said.

Besides demanding release of BNP chairperson and other political leaders, Mr Alamgir suggested launching a mass movement based on some common demands, compelling the current government to step down.

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the country has been passing through a critical moment due to corruption, weakening the judiciary and media.

"They (ruling party men) are looters. They looted billions of money from banks and capital market. They were not charged and arrested, but the BNP chief remains in jail in a case of Tk 25 million," he said.

Demanding immediate release of Begum Zia and other political arrestees, he said presence of various political parties indicated that national unity has been forged.

"We'll force the government to step down and accept our logical demands," he said.

President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) ASM Abdur Rab said the national unity is needed for qualitative change in democracy and establishment of people's government.

He was critical of the rules of the Election Commission. "We don't want EVM (electronic voting machine). We won't accept it," he said.

Speaking as the chief guest, former president and chairman of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said the 'autocratic' government used law enforcement agencies to stop the people from thinking differently and holding independent opinion.

He said corruption reached an extreme height and ruling party men tried to legalise it and, thus, destroying moral values of the people.

"We want to vote freely. No one has the right to take away such rights," he added.

Convener of the national unity process Dr Kamal Hossain said the government is engaged in looting money from the banking system in the name of development and mega projects.

Citing a recent report, he said rich people are getting richer in the country, which is unfortunate for the nation while Bangladesh's relations with other countries are getting weaker.

"We need to save our country. We need to save our judiciary and financial institutions. So, please come up to this effect," he added.

BNP senior leaders barrister Moudud Ahmed, Dr Moin Khan and Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, barrister Mainul Hosein and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh general secretary Abdul Mannan, among others, also spoke at the rally.

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