Opposition: Demands, goals of Unity Process ‘nearly finalised’

Demands, goals of Unity Process ‘nearly finalised’

Prothom Alo Staff Correspondent . Dhaka | Oct 12, 2018

.The leaders of BNP, Jukta Front and Gano Forum have finalised a draft framework of greater national unity with common demands to force the government to hold a fair and neutral national election.

Emerging from a meeting on Friday evening, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna told newsmen that common demands and goals of BNP, Jukta Front (United Front) and Gano Forum will be finalised Saturday.

“A draft of common demands and goals has been fixed in the meeting and it would be finalised on Saturday,” he said.

The meeting was held at the house of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president ASM Abdur Rab in the capital’s Uttara.

Leaders of BNP, Badrudozza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front (United Front) comprised of three political parties and Kamal Hossain-led Gano Forum joined the meeting.

Gano Forum president Kamal Hossain initiated a move to forge National Unity Process (Jatiya Oikya Prokriya) engaging opposition parties including BNP demanding a fair election under a neutral government.

The leaders of these political parties recently took a primary decision at a meeting at the house of BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain to launch a united movement in a bid to realise a five-point demand.

Among the demands, it was decided to launch a movement demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and holding the national election under a neutral government.

The leaders also set some goals which would be implemented if these parties formed government. The goals of separate parties are being combined.

Earlier, Jukta Front and Oikya Prokriya announced nine goals while BNP announced 12.

JSD general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan and Gano Forum joint general secretary AHM Shafiullah were assigned to coordinate both the nine and 12 goals.

They will make a draft of it and submit to Oikya Prokriya convener Kamal Hossain. The leaders have discussed it in Friday’s meeting.

These opposition parties announced their goals separately. The goals include balance of power, reduction of corruption, good governance and independence of judiciary.

The meeting was scheduled to be held on Thursday evening. But the meeting was postponed later.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Gano Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Sultan Mansur, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh joint secretary general Mahi B Chowdhury, central leader Omar Faruk, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Shahidullah Kaisar and JSD general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan joined the meeting.

The leaders of these parties held meetings at ASM Rab’s and Khandaker Mosharraf’s houses on 7 October and 8 October respectively.