Country not being run as per constitution: Dr Kamal

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain today alleged that people cannot exercise their power as owners of the country because Bangladesh is not run as per its constitution.

"Even after 50 years of the country's independence, we've to seek our constitutional power back. Our power has been usurped ...we're not allowed to exercise our power as they (govt) were not elected truly," he said.

Dr Kamal further said, "I would like to firmly say that the country's current governance system is not operated as per the constitution. Our leaders had written in the constitution that people are owners [sources] of power. But we're not allowed to enjoy it and the benefits of the independence."

He came up with the remarks while speaking at the triennial council of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) at Mohanagar Natalya Mancha auditorium.

Dr Kamal, also the president of Gonoforum, said the ruling party is having fun by holding elections in its own style. "They're holding elections after doing something or holding any event, and telling people that they're elected and got the legitimacy. But people aren't blind and they've their own conscience to judge. Can we accept some of the exercises that are being called elections?"

He alleged that the dynamism of people has been robbed of through various plots and ruining the governance system and democracy.

The Gonoforum chief said those who think they can buy people and keep the governance system under their grip with black money are living in fool's paradise.

Regretting that the ruling party has been in power 'resorting to falsehood and spreading lies' over the general election and its results, he called upon the government to hold a fresh election recasting the Election Commission.

He said their alliance wants to restore people's ownership of the country on the eve of the Golden Jubilee of Independence.

Dr Kamal urged the alliance leaders and activists to go to every locality, village, union and upazila to rejuvenate people to take to the streets to restore their ownership of the country.

He also urged all to get united to materialise the dreams of the independence and the freedom fighters.

Speaking at the programme, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Awami League has established a 'puppet' government in the country destroying the spirit of the Liberation War. "Our country and its people are now getting defeated in various ways due to the puppet government which is taking the country towards subjugation."

He said India's NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act may harm Bangladesh, but the government is playing a silent role in this regard and saying it is an internal matter of India.

The BNP leader said their party does not believe in communalism. "We don't want to send our people to another country. We also can't accept if people from there (India) are sent illegally here calling them Bangladeshis."

Stating that the country is going through a political crisis, he said there is no alternative to a mass upsurge of people to get rid of it.

He said people had waged the Liberation War in 1971 with a dream of establishing a democratic country, but Awami League has destroyed that dream by assuming office.

The BNP leader said they formed the Oikyafront with a high hope to restore democracy through the election. "We've failed, but we must do it by forging a greater unity of people."

Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddiqui, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Ganosamhati Andolon's chief coordinator Zonayed Saki and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, among others, addressed the programme held with JSD president ASM Abdur Rob in the chair.