Staff Reporter :
Top leaders of different parties sat at a meeting on Tuesday night here with a view to building a greater ‘National Unity’ ahead of the 11th parliamentary election to be held in December next.
The meeting began at 8:00pm at residence of prominent lawyer and President of Gano Forum Dr. Kamal Hossain in the city’s Baily Road.
Bikolpadhara president Dr. AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Secretary General Abdul Mannan, President of National Socialist Party (JSD) ASM Rab, Nagorik Oikya’s convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, BNP’s nominated coordinator for national unity and founder of Gonosasthya Kendra Dr. Jafrullah Chodhury, former VP of DUCSU Sultan Monsur Ahmed,among others, attended the meeting..
Over the last few months, Dr. Kamal Hossain has been trying to establish a national unity in the country. Meanwhile, both Gano Forum and Jukto Front have progressed in this regard.
On the other hand, BNP has also been working to build a greater solidarity. But the other political parties have not so far responded to BNP’s call as the party is already in alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami.
Now, the BNP has decided to take part in the process of unity with other parties keeping the 20-party separate. However, no political leader of BNP attended the meeting last night.
BNP sources said, Dr. Jaffarullah has been working to build greater solidarity with those parties on formation of the grand alliance.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is taking care of the matter directly, added the sources.
Details of the meeting could not be known immediately as the meeting was going on till the writing of the report at 190:00pm.
Recently, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has asked the party general secretary to take initiatives to build greater unity by fixing the party and alliance.
UNB adds: The proposals include forging a unity of all like-mined, non-communal, democratic and pro-liberation parties except Jamaat-e-Islami and other anti-liberation ones, in the national interests, ensuring freedom of speech, press freedom and freedom of association and meetings, establishing the rule of law, ensuring the independence of the judiciary and holding a neutral and acceptable election.
It also proposed ensuring a balance between parliament and the government to stop political obstinacy, announcing an election roadmap through discussion with political parties before the announcement of the election schedule, dissolving parliament and revoking the cabinet, and not arresting activists of any political party until the end of the polls and releasing all the students and political prisoners before the announcement of the election schedule.
