Staff Reporter :
Jatiya Oikyafront leader and Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday demanded the replacement of Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda with a credible person for the sake of a free and fair national election.
“We couldn’t be happy after meeting with the CEC. We think that he shoud be replaced with a credible person,” Dr Kamal said while briefing journalists at the Jatiya Press Club about the country’s overall political situation and election atmosphere.
The Gono Forum President raised question to the CEC. Why do you (CEC) : order to arrest the opposition leaders and activists? Speak openly on this issue with proper information, that we can scrutinize and investigate it. You should clear it whether the arrest order is logical or it is government order. If you work on the government advice, we will go to the High Court.
The wild arrest of leaders and activists of opposition parties continues. It is not conducive for a congenial election atmosphere. This should be stopped, Dr Kamal said.
He said, the behaviour of government is not democratic. Authoritarian behaviour is a great barrier to hold free and fair polls. We want a democratic Bangladesh for which three million people sacrificed their lives. The demand for good governance is the demand. We want to build a proper democratic country and a good government.
Dr Kamal further said, “Police are the force of the state…they aren’t the government force.
Police have to work for creating a proper election atmosphere. They must give protection to opposition parties.”
Gono Forum Executive President Advocate Subrata Chowdhury read the written statement. In the statement, saying that, the PM, Ministers and government officials use their government residence and office for political activities, which run counter to the electoral code of conduct.
During the election, though the police and civil administration on will be under the control of the EC, the law enforces have kept the unabated campaign of arresting the opposition leaders and workers, searching residence and filing cases one after another. That the arrested persons do not get bail, the government is using the judiciary.
The AL candidates and the ministers have been conducting election campaigns freely in cooperation with the police and civil administration, but the opposition candidates find no passage to canvass, to bring out processions, to hold rallies, to conduct the voters.
In the press briefing, two ex AL leaders joined Gono Forum. They are Major General (Rtd.) AMSA Amin and Dr Reza Kibria.
At the end of the press conference, private TV channel ETV’s ex-chairman Abuds Salam joined Gano Forum.
Dr Reza Kibria said, we will build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh under the leadership of Dr Kamal Hossain.
AMSA Amin said, I want to free my constituency from hunger and corruption.
Krishak Sramik Janata League President Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddique, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya leader Sultan Mohammad Monsur Ahmed, Gono Forum Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu among others, were present.
