Staff Reporter :Shushashoner Jannoy Nagorik (Sujan), a citizen body, has urged the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to initiate a dialogue to find out a way to end the current political standoff in the country. Sujan secretary Badiul Alam Majumder came up with the call at a press conference on ‘dialogue and consensus emergency today’ held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Saturday. “People have been in confinement since January 4. An unbearable situation has been prevailing as people can’t come out of their houses for their urgent needs,” Badiul Alam said in a written statement. He said that political situation has become unstable over the January 5 programmes called by the Awami League and BNP thus spread violence across the country. He also placed the figure of deaths caused by the violence in recent times and said, nine people have been killed at different places including Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj, Noakhali and Laxmipur districts.”If the situation continues, the country will turn into an ineffective state,” he cautioned. In this backdrop, Sujan chief urged the President to save the country as well its people from the violent situation. “This situation will lead the country to a civil war if it is not tackled cautiously. If Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia fail to reach a consensus, the President as the head of state…we think he will carry out his role with wisdom and bravery in time of need.” “The Prime Minister must initiate it first. People of the country do not want a ‘dialogue game’ again. They want a dialogue that will be conducted through a cordial and considerable attitude for a strict solution,” the statement added.IT said, “The country faced a serious political crisis in 1990, which was solved by joint efforts of the major political parties. Like that, Sujan hopes, there will be a consensus among the major political parties to tackle the present situation.””A dialogue can create a way of a long cherished national unity, which will also help our country to be a middle income one in the world,” the statement added. Referring the 10th parliamentary election, the Sujan chief said, “A democratic governing system requires a safe, impartial and contesting poll. But a general election was held on January 5 in 2014 ignoring objections by civil society and other organisations. In which, 153 MPs were selected. Whereas, the section 65 of the constitution says a poll with participation of voters.” Only 12 out of 41 registered political parties participated in the poll. In this regard, Sujon further advised for a fresh, impartial and contesting national general election shortly.Executive Member of Sujan Dr Tofail Ahmed and Central Coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarker were present there.
