Create polls-time neutral govt by Sept 30, congenial aura

Dhaka, Sept 22 – The national unity process led by eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday adopted a declaration demanding of the government to form an election-time neutral government and reconstitute the Election Commission (EC) by September 30 this year through initiating talks with political parties. The declaration also demanded effective measures for creating a congenial atmosphere for holding a free and fair election and dissolve the present parliament before the announcement of the election schedule.
The declaration was made from a citizens’ rally in the city amid participation of top leaders of major opposition parties both from the right and the left blocks and members of the civil society.
After the announcement of the two-page declaration, Dr Kamal Hossain, who presided over the rally, along with Bikalpa Dhara president Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal ASM Abdur Rab, convenor of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna, founder of Ganasastha Kendra Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and former adviser to the caretaker government Barrister Moinul Hosein, among others, raised their hands together expressing their support to the declaration.
The much-talked-about greater national unity has virtually taken a final shape amid announcement of the declaration from the citizens’ rally held at Mohanagar Natya Manch in the afternoon.
The greater national unity has been formed at a crucial moment of the country months ahead of the 11th parliamentary poll as the major opposition parties are demanding elections under a neutral government while the government made it clear that it would be held in accordance with the constitution that bared this provision.
The declaration read out by convenor of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Protection National Commission Engr Shahidul Islam also demanded of the government to provide ensuring legal and just rights of imprisoned former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the release of all political leaders and those who led the quota reform movement and agitation for safe roads.
From now on, leaders and activists of any political party cannot be arrested till the completion of the next general elections, said the declaration.
The declaration called upon all political parties, individuals and people irrespective of calls and professions believe in the spirit of the war of liberation to forge committees of greater national unity at each district, Upazila, union and ward levels and continue united movement in a democratic and peaceful manner until the realization of the demands.
The declaration announced that the national leaders of the greater national unity will join rallies and public meetings across the country from October 1.
The declaration expressed solidarity with the five-point demand and nine-point aims declared on September 15 by Dr Kamal Hossain led national unity process and Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury led three-party Jukta Front for holding the elections in a free, fair and acceptable manner as per the desire of the people.
The declaration termed person and quarter based rule and massive corruption ignoring the constitution, functional democracy, rule of law and neutral application of law as the main cause of the current political crises in the country.
Our national unity aims will be not only the sending a party or alliance to power by removing a party or alliance but also bringing timely reformation in the legislature, administration and judiciary to ensure equal opportunity, welfare-oriented economy and political empowerment of the people will be at the centre of our national greater unity, said the declaration.
The Natya Manch auditorium and its adjacent areas filed with leaders and activists of different political parties as the rally began at 33:00 pm with playing the inaugural song “Amader najya odhikar joto, amader firiye dao (Return us, all our just rights).
In his speech, Dr Kamal Hossain said he is trying to forge a greater national unity aiming at ensuring functional democracy, rule of law and impartial application of law through restoration people’s fundamental rights including their voting rights, human rights, and constitutional rights.
“The people have given a massive response to the initiative. The people are united on fundamental issues. Time has come for the likeminded parties to get united. I believe that we will be successful, inshallah,” he said.
He mentioned that some people are getting a smell of a conspiracy to go to power through national unity move but he said they are holding a open rally not a secret meeting.
“Those who are afraid of people’s power are trying to undermine the national unity move by terming it as a conspiracy,” he observed.
He alleged that in the name of development country’s wealth is being plundered freely and people’s money being wasted in the name of mega projects.
“I do not need anything for myself. As a political activist it is my sacred responsibility to ensure people’s empowerment in accordance with the constitution,” he said.
Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury warned the government that time has come when the people would seek an answer from the government about its “misrule, misdeeds, killings and enforced disappearances.”
Criticizing the government not to give permission to the political parties for holding rallies, he questioned the reason for the permission in the independent country.
“WE will hold rallies and will not care of the permission for those,” he cautioned.
He called upon all the democratic parties to get united saying that it is time to resist the government.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir who led the BNP delegation urged Dr Kamal Hossain and Prof Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury to take forward the unity saying that BNP leaders and workers are with them.
He said the greater national unity has to be forged at any cost to remove the misrule.
The BNP leader put emphasis on the need to form a national unity government to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty.
He reiterated his party’s demand for resignation of the Prime Minister and dissolution of parliament before the announcement of the polls schedule, the formation of a neutral government, reconstitution of EC and deployment of the army during the polls.
Mirza Alamgir called upon the greater national unity leaders to launch a movement taking people with them on the basis of a

Opposition leaders at Citizens' rally at the the National Theatre stage raise hands in unison on Saturday. UNB
Opposition leaders at Citizens’ rally at the National Theatre stage raise hands in unison on Saturday. UNB

minimum programme.
He termed the citizens rally one step ahead for the greater national unity.
BNP standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Barrister Moinul Hosein, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, president of Supreme Court Bar Association Joynul Abedin, ASM Abdur Rab, Mahmudur Rahman Manna,
Jonayed Al Saki of Gano Sanghati Andolon, among others, also spoke on the occasion. – Staff Reporter