B Chy, Dr Kamal-led platforms unveil 'greater national unity'

Demands include

FE Report | Published: September 15, 2018 22:48:09

Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front (JF) and Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya (JOP) made the announcement of a "greater national unity" on Saturday in the run-up to a free, fair, transparent and credible election in the country.
The two platforms also placed a five-point demand that includes ensuring a level-playing field for election, dissolving parliament before the national polls and formation of a neutral government based on opinions of all political parties to oversee the elections.
It (the demand) also includes deployment of army for 40 days (30 days before and 10 days after the elections) with magistracy power, giving the Election Commission full authority to control the law enforcement agencies, stopping use of electronic voting machine (EVM) and reforming the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972.
The two platforms demanded that persons involved with the election-time government would not participate in the polls, the EC be reformed, there would be freedom of assembly and rally for all political parties, all student leaders detained for leading the quota and safe road movements be released, all cases filed against them be withdrawn and no political leaders would be arrested until the national elections.
Leaders of the platforms who believe in upholding the spirit of Liberation War and building a non-communal and democratic Bangladesh put forth the demands at a press conference at the National Press Club.
"An unelected government without any public support is in power now. They are clinging to power by carrying out terrorist activities, arrests, filing false cases and using the police administration," said Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna reading out a statement.
The statement was jointly signed by chairman of JF Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and convener of JOP Dr Kamal Hossain.
Manna also presented their nine-point objective that includes decentralisation of power, bringing balance of power between the prime minister and the president, ensuring effective independence of judiciary, appointment of an ombudsman and amendment to the Article 70 of the Constitution.
"There is no alternative to forging a greater unity if the country and its people are to get rid of such a terrible situation and effective democracy, rule of law and impartial enforcement of law have to be ensured in the country," he said.
He added they were compelled to hold their programme at the National Press Club as the government did not allow them to assemble at the Central Sahheed Minar for the purpose.
He said that chairman of JF and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh chief Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury could not attend the programme at the National Press Club as he fell ill after hearing that the government could not allow them to hold the programme at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Convener of JOP Dr Kamal Hossain called upon all to forge a greater national unity so that people could exercise their franchise freely without any fear and favour.
He said that establishing a true and effective democracy was in line with the spirit of the War of Liberation.
"Let's forge a national unity at the grassroots level," said Dr Hossain who is also the president of Gono Forum.
He called upon all to remain alert so that black money holders, criminals, communal and anti-liberation forces could not snatch people's right to vote.
The JF and JOP leaders said that they want to ensure a balance of power among the parliament, government, president and the prime minister for ensuring people's real empowerment through good governance.
President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD- Rab) ASM Abdur Rab and founder of Gono Shasthaya Kendra Dr Jafrullah Chowdhury were present, among others.
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