AL making dialogue a mockery, claims JOF

Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF) leaders alleged on Tuesday that ruling Awami League (AL) has moved to make the ongoing political dialogues a 'mockery' through continuation of arrests and filing false cases against the opposition leaders and activists.

They also expressed doubt over outcome of the dialogues to find a peaceful solution for holding the 11th parliamentary election in a free, fair and participatory manner.

"We held talks with the ruling party for finding a peaceful solution of the ongoing crisis, but we are yet to get anything concrete," BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed said at a grand rally of JOF at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.

He also said the government is continuing dialogues alongside mass arrest of the opposition leaders and activists. On the other hand, Election Commission (EC) has hurriedly decided to declare poll schedule although the talks are not finished yet.

"The government will have to backtrack from such a contradictory stance. Otherwise, the dialogues will turn into a mockery," he added.

Moderating the rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government assured them of not arresting or harassing anyone politically. But it did not keep the word, as arrests and harassment are going on unabated.

"We want a peaceful solution through talks (for holding credible a national poll). Don't play any drama of mockery. Our demands are clear - stepping down of the Prime Minister, a neutral poll-time government, and unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia."

He warned that JOF will launch a road-march towards Rajshahi on November 8 (tomorrow) unless their demands are met from the dialogue on November 7 (today).

He informed that they will also announce more programmes from the rally in Rajshahi, slated for November 9.

Speaking as the chief guest of the rally, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain said at present there is no rule of law in the country. The leaders and activists of the opposition parties are treated differently from those of the ruling parties.

"It cannot be accepted. This unelected government cannot do it. You (people) are the owners of this state. You have to turn around strongly for ensuring a fair national election."

Criticising the government, the veteran jurist said after forming the government in 2014, the Awami League-led ruling coalition had stated that it would hold the national election again.

"But 2015, 2016 and 2017 are gone, and 2018 is about to go. But no such (participatory) election has taken place. The government's commitment has no value."

He also demanded immediate release of the BNP chairperson.

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, stating that the election is knocking at the door, said, "Only two months are left for the national polls, but people still ask - 'will the next election be the same as January 5, will we be able to cast our votes?'"

Mentioning the JOF's demands and its initiative to negotiate with the government via dialogue, he said, "Our first demand is - there will be no election under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."

Besides, election is not possible under the current EC and with continuation of the incumbent parliament, he opined.

"We will participate in the dialogue with the government again on November 7, and this time we will not agree with verbal commitments only. The government will have to give written commitments (to us)."

Pointing to the BNP leaders, Krishak Sramik Janata League President Bongobir Kader Siddique said, "If you want to win in the next election, forget the name of BNP ... stand firmly under the flag of Oikya Front ... until the election at least."

At one point, he said, "I don't want release of Khaleda Zia, as there is no need to demand her release today. We need to think when Sheikh Hasina will be free."

"We will make the country's democracy and Khaleda Zia free through participating in the election under the leadership of Dr. Kamal Hossain," he added.

Referring to the Prime Minister's pledge to hold a fair election, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said the polls will only be fair, if people can go to the polling stations freely to cast their votes.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarker, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Mirza Abbas and Rafiqul Islam Mia, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President A S M Abdur Rab, among others, also spoke at the programme.

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