Civil society group calls for talks, end to violence

FE Report
A group of civil society members from different professions reiterated their call on Friday for an end to violence and initiating a dialogue immediately for the sake of peace and stability in the country.
They reiterated the call under the banner of 'Worried Citizens' at a press conference in the city in view of the political crisis prevailing in the country.
"We want a peaceful solution to the prevailing political standoff. People from all professions and classes in the country want to see peace and harmony," said former chief election commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda at the press briefing at the National Press Club.
After the press briefing, he announced the 13-member convening committee of Nagarik Samaj, a civil society platform, after dropping two names from the list of prospective members -- Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain and Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna. Mr Huda became the convener.  
The other members of the committee include former caretaker government advisers M Hafizuddin, Akbar Ali Khan, CM Shafi Shami, Rasheda K Choudhury, Rokeya Afzal and Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik, former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, executive director of Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) Dr Ahsan H Mansur and central secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN) Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar.
"Dialogue is a part of peaceful and democratic politics. We want peace, political stability and immediate end to the prevailing situation," Mr Huda said at the press conference.
Asked whether they would initiate any dialogue for resolving the ongoing political impasse, he said: "We'll not take any move on our own for a dialogue. If it is needed, we will extend our all-out cooperation to make the move a success".
When asked about the snub from ruling party leaders who dubbed the civil society "cancers of the society and fathers of the 1/11," he said: "We welcome the ministers and the ruling party leaders for their criticism as they take us into account."
He said the initiatives -- stopping violence and initiating any dialogue --would have to come simultaneously from both sides for putting an end to the standoff that claimed the life of around 90 people since the blockade started on January 6.
He urged the political parties to create an environment for dialogue putting an end to the ongoing violence across the country.
"We want a peaceful solution to it. People from all professions and classes of the country want to see peace and harmony," he said.
Regarding the letters they sent to the President, the Prime Minister and the BNP chief, he said: "We do not have any plan to meet with the President, the Prime Minister and the BNP Chairperson on our own. But, if we get their calls, then we'll go and meet".
He said the foreign initiative for resolving the country's political crisis was not a good sign at all.  
Earlier on February 9 the Nagarik Samaj sent three separate letters, signed by ATM Shamsul Huda, to President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia requesting them to take initiatives for holding a dialogue to break the ongoing political stalemate.
Responding to a question, he said those saying that there was no necessity for holding any dialogue should need to find out an alternative way for resolving the ongoing political crisis.
talghabinhabib@yahoo.com