A new forum named ‘Jatiya Oikya Prokriya’ was floated on Saturday, headed by Gana Forum president Kamal Hossain, aiming to unite the nation on 14 basic and nationally important issues.
The issues include ensuring a free, fair and credible election without the interference of administration and black money, strengthening the constitutional institutions, formation of a ‘constitution review committee’ to bring required amendments to the constitution and ensuring a just society.
Kamal Hossain, addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, said that they floated the new forum to create a sense among the people that they were the real owners of the country.
He said that they planned to organise a civic dialogue with the participation of people irrespective of political identity, religion and profession, coming November to hear them out and transform their unity into an organisational force.
The eminent jurist said that the people would decide on what they would need to do for establishing their rights and overcoming different crises prevailing everywhere in the country.
Jatiya Party co-chairman GM Quader, who is also a member of the new forum, said that they would act as a ‘pressure group’ to realise the due rights of people, which are already in the constitution.
He said people have lost their rights to vote and politics is now considered a profitable business and as a means to loot money.
Quader said that the nation was supposed to be administered in line with the constitution but there was no practical reflection of the constitution anywhere in the country.
He said that Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convener of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, had taken the initiative for formation of the new forum and he responded to his call along with others.
Shahidullah declared that they primarily formed a ten-member convening committee for the new forum and the committee will be expanded through new members.
But only six members – including Kamal Hossain, GM Quader, co-chairman of Jatiya Party, Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, former Awami League organising secretary, ABM Mostafa Ameen, convener of Bangladesh Nobel laureate Dr Yunus’ Samman Rakkha Nagorik Committee and women leader Selina Akhter- were present at the press conference.
The name of former Awami League lawmaker S M Akram, former BNP lawmaker Abdul Mannan and professor Ajay Roy were mentioned in the committee but they did not turn up at the meeting.
Source: New Age
