Dhaka, Oct 28 – In a major development, the newly formed Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF) on Sunday sent a letter to Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requesting her to take an initiative for a dialogue to make the next general elections participatory and competitive one.“The Jatiya Oikya Front is feeling the necessity of holding a meaningful dialogue with Bangladesh Awami League to hold a participatory and competitive election in a peaceful and congenial atmosphere. We expect your effective initiative in this regard,” said the letter signed by JOF leader Dr Kamal Hossain.
A JOF delegation led by Gano Forum presidium member Jaglul Haider Afrik and joint secretary AOM Shafiqullah handed over the letter to AL office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap at party chief’s political office at Dhanmondi in the evening.
The JOF made the request to the premier for a dialogue only 14 days after the formation of the alliance comprising the largest opposition BNP, Gano Forum, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Nagorik Oikya.
“We sent the letter to Awami League president and its general secretary on behalf of Jatiya Oikya Front and Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap has received the letter,” said Jaglul Haider Afrik.
After handing over the letter he told the waiting journalists at the Sheikh Hasina’s political office. He said the Jatiya Oikya Front wants to sit for talks with the ruling Awami League to resolve the ongoing political impasse.
AL office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap said: “I got the letter. Now it will hand over to our general secretary.” The context of the letter will be disclosed later, he added.
In the letter, Dr Kamal recalled the leadership of Father of the Nation and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to carry out long movement and achieved the country’s independence at the cost of 30 lakh martyrs and dignity of two lakh mothers and sisters during the war of liberation.
“You (PM) must agree that Bangladesh’s people consider the election as a grand festival. It was Bangabandhu who ensured the provision of one person for one vote. It is our constitutional obligation to protect it, he said.
The Gano Forum president said, “Bangabandhu taught us as to how a positive politics can turn into the main force to realize the just rights of the people by uniting a nation.”
The letter mentioned that it is not unknown to anybody as to how a negative and ill politics divide the nation and fall into crises. Now, it is our national challenge to overcome the crises, the letter added.
It also mentioned that the JOF has announced a seven-point charter of demands and 11-point visions to face the challenge.
It is a democracy whose ideology and value encouraged the people to sacrifice during the movement for people’s freedom. The first condition of democracy is holding the election in a free, fair and neutral manner. It is the constitutional pledge that the elected representatives would apply people’s power on behalf of the people and prepare law and run the administrative works, the letter explained.
After the emergence of the JOF, it held two public meetings in Sylhet on October 24 and Chattogram on October 27.
Earlier on October 18, the Jatiya Oikya Front briefed diplomats of different countries about the latest development in the political arena and the background of the formation of the new alliance. – Staff Reporter
