Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain speaking at a press conference at National Press Club in the capital on Monday — FE Photo Gono Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain said on Monday he had no intention to contest the upcoming 11th parliamentary election or hold a position when in power.
Pointing to his critics, he said the recently-floated political alliance, Jatiya Oikya Front, was formed to realise the demand for a free and fair election.
The key initiator of the coalition said it wanted to build a democratic society free from inequalities.
The political parties of the front were committed to that end, he told a press conference organised by his party at the National Press Club.
"There is no scope to see it as a platform to support Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam, Tarique Rahman, or other individuals or groups," Dr Kamal asserted.
The noted jurist said different groups launched vitriolic, baseless attacks on him since the formation of the political coalition on October 13.
"I want to make it clear that I have no intension to be a contestant in the election or to get a position when in power," he uttered.
Dr Kamal said, "I'll be working for securing a democratic, secular and multi-dimensional society."
"I'm observing with grave concern that some quarters are trying to give a wrong perception of our combined effort for fair polls in the democratic ruling system," he stated.
Dr Kamal said Gono Forum, other parties and civil-society members held a series of discussions before reaching a consensus on the seven-point demand, which are central to a participatory poll.
"The coalition has no relations with Jamaat. I made it clear earlier. I'm telling again that we've no ties with any anti-liberation force," he said.
"We developed unity with BNP for a fair election and we're creating public opinion for that."
BNP, Gono Forum, ASM Abdur Rab-led Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Mahmudur Rahman Manna-led Nagorik Oikya have united to realise their seven-point demand and implement 11 goals.
Their demands include unconditional release of all political arrestees, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, dissolution of parliament and formation of a poll-time government in discussion with other parties.
Recasting the Election Commission and no of EVM (electronic voting machine) use in polls, deployment of army with magistracy power and withdrawal of cases against politicians were the other demands.
Gono Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury and other leaders were present at the briefing.
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