Staff Reporter :
Commerce Minister and Awami League Advisory Committee Member Tofail Ahmed has said that the demand put forward by Dr Kamal Hossain-led ‘greater national unity’ is not acceptable as it is contradictory with the Constitution. The Minister came up with the remark while talking to reporters regarding the demands of the ‘greater national unity’ at the Secretariat on Sunday.
On Saturday, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya and Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front formally announced the journey of a ‘greater national unity’ at a press briefing in the city to ensure functional democracy in the country through holding a credible national election.
Dr Kamal placed some demands which include dissolving Parliament before the announcement of the schedule of the upcoming national election, forming a poll-time impartial government in consultation with all the political parties, reconstituting the Election Commission with acceptable persons to ensure a free, fair and neutral election, ensuring all political parties’ freedom of speech and association, withdrawing the ‘false’ cases filed against leaders and activists of all the political parties and releasing students who waged the ‘quota reform’ and ‘safe road’ movements, releasing the political prisoners and not arresting any political leaders and activists until the election is over.
Opposing these demands, Tofail Ahmed said, “Any party can join in the new alliance. We welcome the alliance led by Dr Kamal Hossain and Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury for their initiative of forging greater national unity.”
The Minister hints that the next election would be held as per the Constitution and as per the schedule of the Election Commission under the ruling party as the countries in the world like Australia and USA.
He said that the demands of the ‘greater national unity’ couldn’t be met as those go counter to the country’s Constitution.
The senior AL leader said, “Dr Kamal did not win any election before and I hope he will win in this election. People do not like those who change parties frequently.”
Referring to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s visit to UN Headquarters at the invitation of its Secretary General, Tofail said, “I am astonished that Mirza Fakhrul has gone to New York at the invitation of UN Secretary General. It is not true. Fakhrul has met with the UN Assistant Secretary General. We do not hold meeting with a low level person and it is not prestigious.”
