Gono Forum may decide to join JS

Gono Forum may take a positive decision about joining the next parliament as two of the party's candidates have won in the last national election held on December 30.
"We will take a decision after discussing it precisely with the party members. I think it will be a positive one," Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain hinted on Saturday responding to a question.
About taking oath to join the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS), he said, "We have rejected the polls results; but the way our two candidates won in such an election can be considered as a big achievement."
"So, we are thinking positively about it and the party's two parliament members (MPs) can play a constructive role in the next parliament being in the opposition," he added.
Dr Kamal made the remarks at a press conference following an extended meeting of the party's central committee at the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad on the city's Topkhana Road.
Gono Forum candidate Mokabbir Khan was elected in the Sylhet-2 constituency with the 'Rising Sun' as the
party's electoral symbol. Sultan Muhammad Mansur of the party emerged winner in the Moulvibazar-2 constituency with BNP's 'Sheaf of Paddy' as his electoral symbol. It was the electoral symbol of the Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF) too.
However, talking about Gono Forum's future relation with JOF, Dr Kamal said, "We have always been talking about unity; we are still in favour of continuing the unity."
The JOF convener said a positive decision of Gono Forum MPs to take oath and join the parliament might not degrade its relation with JOF, in which BNP is the key party.
Replying to a question about allegations of widespread polls irregularities, the Gono Forum president said they might go to court over the election if they find evidences of vote rigging.
Earlier at the press conference, Dr Kamal said it was really a matter of sorrow that after all these years of the country's independence, obstacles to free and fair election had been created.
A participatory democracy cannot be established without a free, fair and credible election, he said.
"Scrapping the citizens' right to franchise creates a constitutional crisis in the country," he added.
Gono Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, its general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, presidium member Jaglul Haider Afrik and two MPs Sultan Muhammad Mansur Ahmed and Mokabbir Khan were present on the occasion.
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