Jatiya Oikyafront leaders want to meet President Abdul Hamid and seek his intervention to improve the current political situation in the run-up to the December 30 polls.
On Thursday, the party sent a letter in this regard to the Bangabhaban which sought an appointment with the president for the leaders of Oikyafront -- alliance of the BNP and several other opposition parties -- on December 17, alliance sources said.
A 10-member delegation, led by Oikyafront's top leader Dr Kamal Hossain, also the president of Gonoforum, will meet the president if they get the appointment, the sources added.
"We will draw his [president] attention to the continued attacks on opposition candidates and activists during electioneering and the mass arrest of opposition activists. We will seek his intervention to improve the situation," Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the Oikyafront, told The Daily Star yesterday.
The BNP and the Jatiya Oikyafront have been accusing the government of using law enforcement agencies to arrest and harass their nominees, leaders and activists across the country.
Since the announcement of the election schedule, the BNP has kept lodging complaints with the Election Commission (EC) seeking its action to stop the arrests and harassment.
But according to opposition leaders, this has not helped improve the situation.
Against this backdrop, the Oikyafront leaders have decided to meet the president, who they think can play a significant role in advising the EC to take necessary measures to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, party leaders said referring to section 5 (2) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
The section 5 (2) of the RPO says: "All executive authorities of the government shall assist the commission in the performance of its functions, and for this purpose the president may, after consultation with the commission, issue such directions as he may consider necessary."
Jatiya Oikyafront leaders want to meet President Abdul Hamid and seek his intervention to improve the current political situation in the run-up to the December 30 polls.
On Thursday, the party sent a letter in this regard to the Bangabhaban which sought an appointment with the president for the leaders of Oikyafront -- alliance of the BNP and several other opposition parties -- on December 17, alliance sources said.
A 10-member delegation, led by Oikyafront's top leader Dr Kamal Hossain, also the president of Gonoforum, will meet the president if they get the appointment, the sources added.
"We will draw his [president] attention to the continued attacks on opposition candidates and activists during electioneering and the mass arrest of opposition activists. We will seek his intervention to improve the situation," Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the Oikyafront, told The Daily Star yesterday.
The BNP and the Jatiya Oikyafront have been accusing the government of using law enforcement agencies to arrest and harass their nominees, leaders and activists across the country.
Since the announcement of the election schedule, the BNP has kept lodging complaints with the Election Commission (EC) seeking its action to stop the arrests and harassment.
But according to opposition leaders, this has not helped improve the situation.
Against this backdrop, the Oikyafront leaders have decided to meet the president, who they think can play a significant role in advising the EC to take necessary measures to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, party leaders said referring to section 5 (2) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
The section 5 (2) of the RPO says: "All executive authorities of the government shall assist the commission in the performance of its functions, and for this purpose the president may, after consultation with the commission, issue such directions as he may consider necessary."
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Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today thanked Dr Kamal Hossain for realising the "mistake" that Jatiya Oikyafront had made by incorporating Jamaat-e-Islami in the recent 11th parliamentary election.
"I would like to thank Dr Kamal Hossain for realising their political mistake," Minister Hasan said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal yesterday said it was a mistake on the part of his party Gonoforum to have joined the December 30 polls with Jamaat leaders contesting under the alliance banner.
Hasan Mahmud further said that the JOF will make another mistake if their elected candidates do not take the oath to join the 11th Parliament.
"I hope they will realise it and join the parliament by taking the oath of office," said the minister.
"A party is trying to drag the country backwards. I think no conspiracy against the country will work," he said.
Responding to a question about the recently enacted Digital Security Act, he said that the government will work on it so that no panic remains among the journalists about the act.
"I always welcome all types of criticism. When I was the Environment Minister, English daily The Daily Star published several reports criticising the ministry, even they published cartoons. But, we gave them an environment award. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) was also awarded although they had criticised the ministry," said the minister.
Mentioning that criticism speeds up anyone's journey, the minister said, "But, blind and one-sided criticism is not useful. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has introduced the culture of welcoming any criticism."
"This time, Awami League has pledged that the country's villages will be turned into cities. Coordinated efforts are required to move the country forward. Mass media also play a vital role in this effort," said Hasan Mahmud.
He also said that a huge revolution has been made not only in the country's online media but also in print, electronic and social media.
"Around 8 crore people are using social media," he mentioned.
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"We must work together with the new generation, prioritise the aspirations of the people to build a democratic, just, and equitable Bangladesh."
— Dr Kamal Hossain
Constitutional reforms should be done after taking people's opinions into account, said Dr Kamal Hossain, one of the framers of the constitution.
"No individual should change it [constitution] with the stroke of a pen," he said at a discussion yesterday.
"If a person, even if it is the president, feels that something is wrong, it would not be appropriate for them to change it single-handedly. They should proceed with amending the constitution only when a strong consensus or majority opinion has been established," Dr Kamal said.
Bangladesh Democratic Lawyers' Association organised the event to mark the day the constitution was adopted 52 years ago.
"We noticed that 15 to 16 amendments were made to the constitution. It was done from the realisation that it is made by human beings. The provision which was deemed right 10 years ago might create problems in a changed scenario. Then the constitution can be amended. But the people have to be taken on board to do that.
Dr Kamal, also the emeritus president of Gono Forum, said the reforms should be done with an aim to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
"We must work together with the new generation, prioritise the aspirations of the people to build a democratic, just, and equitable Bangladesh. Our commitment is to ensure a nation free from discrimination, where no one faces inequality based on gender, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, or any other identity. All constitutional reforms must be made with this objective in mind."
He said people must remain vigilant about how the constitution is being interpreted, whether it is being interpreted correctly or misinterpreted.
The constitution is a document that is interpreted by people. Even the court interprets it, and the court can also make mistakes. The chief justice himself may err, he said.
Addressing the event, eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik criticised frequent changes in the form of the government.
"We formed 11 different types of governments in 52 years. Problems may arise in running a state, but the way we changed the form of the government is like changing a car because a tyre got punctured," he said.
Malik said it was a manifestation of the nation's immaturity regarding state operations.
"If we face any issue, we seek a solution only by changing the form of government. No one in the world does that, but it has become ingrained in us. And we think it is the only solution," he said.
Eminent historian Prof Syed Anwar Hossain said the current government has no right to amend the constitution since it was not elected. This government can only recommend amendments that have to be made by an elected government.
"There is no provision for an interim government in the constitution. We got an unelected government after ousting the autocratic regime."
The court validated the current government under the doctrine of necessity.
Prof Anwar alleged that although the supreme court is the custodian of the constitution, it failed to play its role. "The court followed the government's order and has been doing so."
He opined that prime ministers should not serve more than two terms.
Speaking at the programme, Supreme Court Bar Association President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon said the debate over whether to amend the constitution or write a new one was dividing the nation.
"If any amendment is made or the constitution is rewritten, who will approve it? The last parliament? That's not possible. The future parliament? What if it does not approve it? So, it'll only widen the split," he said.
He also said a consensus should be reached through discussions with political parties that the amendments will be made when they are voted to power.
Among others, Bangladesh Democratic Lawyers' Association President Subrata Chowdhury, General Secretary Zahidul Bari, senior lawyer Mohiuddin Abdul Kader, and SMA Sabur spoke at the programme.
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Dhaka Metropolitan Police expressed concern about the safety of Dr Kamal Hossain during the meeting with the Jatiya Oikyafront convener.
They said, if needed, they would take measures for his security both at his house and chamber, Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum, told reporters after a meeting with the DMP officials at his Motijheel chamber this noon.
“They even said they would provide security with the car as well,” Dr Kamal said.
Even though the DMP Commissioner was supposed to meet Dr Kamal’s house, he could not go because of some other commitment and sent his apologies, the Oikyafront convener said.
In reply to a query whether the alliance would stay in the elections, Dr Kamal said, “We have to hold on to this. So that they (rivals) cannot say that we moved away. This is our right. Why should we move away? If they make it impossible by the end of the day, then people will see.”
He also said, “The government actions are casting doubt on the credibility and fairness of the polls.”
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Gono Forum, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, yesterday demanded that steps be taken to free the transport sector from political influence and laws be properly enforced to restore discipline in the sector.
The party came up with the demand at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.
“Political influence not only helps corruption spread but also make people indifferent to law. Ultimately, the rule of law is hampered. It is applicable for all sectors, including transport,” said Dr Kamal Hossain.
The main reason behind the prevailing anarchy in the transport sector is lack of good governance, said the eminent jurist. “It's necessary to ensure impartial and effective enforcement of laws to ensure good governance.”
Dr Kamal, also the convener of Jatiya Oikyafront, said police must enforce laws so that the goal for which these are framed can be achieved. But if the police are influenced by anybody then they become weaker, and deviate from the rule of law.
Gono Forum will form a human chain in the capital on April 1, to push for its 14-point demand to ensure safe roads, and restoration of discipline in the transport sector.
The programme, which will be held in front of Jatiya Press Club, is also meant for registering the party's protest against the government's move to hike gas tariffs.
Gono Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu announced the programme at the press conference.
“We took to the streets demanding safe roads earlier when students waged a movement to this end. We're also going to form a human chain from 3pm to 5pm in front of Jatiya Press Club on April 1 with the same demand in line with the students and youths,” he said.
Through the programme, Montu said, they will also protest the fresh proposal for raising gas tariffs.
He urged the people of all walks of life, including students, to participate in the programme.
The party also demanded security on the roads in front of public and private hospitals, installation of footbridges and speed-breakers on roads in front of educational institutions, a stop to extortion in the transport sector, creating a fund supervised by a regulatory body for victims of road accidents, and taking suggestions from experts and giving priority to people's interests in constructing roads and bridges and working out transport strategies.
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Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's decision to hold fresh talks with political parties, saying it was a positive step, the UNB reports.
Talking to UNB, he also said they would take a positive decision about joining the dialogue with the PM after discussions with their alliance partners.
"I called upon the government to hold talks with political parties to find an effective way for holding a fresh credible election. Now the prime minister herself has decided to hold the talks. I hail the decision, and it's surely a positive initiative," Dr Kamal said.
Once they get the invitation to join the talks, he said their alliance leaders would sit together and fix what might be discussed at the talks.
He said he expected a positive outcome for the sake of the country's people if the dialogue was held.
At a discussion on Thursday, Dr Kamal had called upon the government to hold a national dialogue on finding ways for arranging a fresh national election as per the constitution.
Contacted, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir refused to make any comment over the matter. "I'm not aware of any such development. So, I'm not willing to say anything about it right now."
Earlier in the day, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Hasina would hold fresh dialogue with the political parties that joined talks at the Gono Bhaban before the December 30 election.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had invited all the political parties, including BNP, Jatiya Oikyafront and Jukto Front, for dialogues before the polls…she will invite them again for exchanging views with them. The dialogues will be held at the Gono Bhaban,” he said.
He said the PM would send letters to Oikyafront, Juktafront, 14-party, Jatiya Party and other political parties inviting them to engage in talks at Gono Bhaban to discuss various issues.
Quader said this at a joint meeting with AL leaders and MPs from Dhaka and its adjacent districts.
The AL general secretary also hoped that all the political parties, including the BNP, would take part in the upcoming upazila parishad election.
“Every party will have to take preparations for the Upazila Parishad polls from now on…we hope all parties, including the BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront, will join the polls,” he said.
“We don't think that our opposition party is weak. We feel happy to contest in any election.”
The meeting was held at AL's Bangabandhu Avenue office in the capital.
Earlier in November, Hasina held dialogues with political leaders of different parties before the 11th parliamentary election over different major contentious issues, including the nature of the polls-time government and dissolution of parliament before the announcement of the polls schedule, among others.
Quader said the AL would hold a grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 19 to celebrate its landslide victory in the December 30 general election.
AL Joint General Secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, its Organising Secretaries AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Advocate Mesbah Uddin Siraj, AL Information and Research Secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, among others, were present at the meeting.
Earlier On Friday, Quader had turned down the call for talks and termed it an absurd demand by the Oikyafront.
Two days later, the AL general secretary said the PM had said at a joint meeting of their advisory council and the central working committee on Saturday that she would again invite those who had joined the talks earlier.
Before the announcement of 11th parliamentary election, Jatiya Oikyafront leaders, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, sat twice with the PM on November 1 and November 7 last at the Gono Bhaban.
‘আমাদের এখন সর্বোচ্চ অগ্রাধিকার হলো চীন সফরের সময় আমরা যে পরিকল্পনাগুলো নিয়ে আলোচনা করেছি সেগুলো নিয়ে এগিয়ে যাওয়া। আমরা নিশ্চিত করতে চাই যে গতি যেন হারিয়ে না যায়।’
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