Two left parties have urged the Opposition to call off the latest shutdown and the government to reach a compromise over the election-time administration in 24 hours.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BaSad) made the call at a joint rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Friday.
CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim wondered: “We forged a consensus in 24 hours during the fall of (HM) Ershad. If we could reach a consensus in 24 hours at the time, why we can’t do it now?”
The CPB and BaSad organised the rally with a slogan to break the two-party cycle centring the Awami League and BNP.
BaSad General Secretary Khalequzzaman, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Gano Forum Executive President Mofizul Islam Khan Kamal were also present at the rally.
The BNP-led 18-Party alliance called a fresh 72-hour general strikes having twice enforced 60-hour shutdown in two successive weeks to press its key demand – holding the next parliamentary polls under a non-party caretaker administration.
The ruling Awami League, however, is against handing over power to any unelected people. Party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed formation of an all-party government to oversee the next parliamentary election.
There was a move recently to hold dialogues between the chiefs of the ruling and opposition parties, but it was frustrated amid blame game.
Selim told the rally: “Leaders of the Awami League and BNP tell a lot of lies. But they speak truth about their opponents.”
He urged the people to go for such actions that would send the two parties to the opposition bench for good.
Selim called for a unity among the left parties. “The leftists, the patriot democratic force, let’s unite without wasting time.”
He hoped that left parties could appear as a political force if the supporters of Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Col Abu Taher and Moni Singh could unite.
The CPB chief said the greatest danger for the people of Bangladesh was the Jamaat-e-Islami, its student front Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir and Hifazat-e Islam.
Khalequzzaman alleged that the two main alliances were trying to come to power depending on the autocrats and militants.
Source: Bd news24
