Dhaka, Sep 15 (Just News): A coalition of the opposition on Saturday proclaimed a set of goals, articulating the demand for holding free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
Senior politician Gano Forum president Kamal Hossain accompanied by leaders of Jukto (United) Front, at a press conference at National Press Club, announced the unity process, raising a five-point demand.
They also made public nine goals to bring changes in the country's political culture and ensure good governance once democracy is restored.
"The greater national unity begins from today (Saturday). I hope our unity will yield a very positive outcome with support from the people, and a functional democracy will be restored in the country,” UNB quoted Kamal Hossain as saying.
Former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, who floated the Jukto Front and made a few joint announcements with Kamal Hossain, was absent as he was indisposed.
Kamal, who is not a formal part of the Front, has called for the national unity involving all major opposition forces including the BNP.
"We the Jukta Front and Jatiya Oikya Prokriya are announcing a joint declaration of a greater national unity which will unite the people of all walks of life. We'll create the unity at every locality, every village and every house, so that people can get back the ownership of their country," he was quoted to have said.
A key demand of them is formation of neutral polls-time government through discussion alongside dissolution of parliament before the announcement of the schedule for next general elections.
Kamal-B Chowdhury combine also demands reconstitution of the election commission with acceptable persons and deployment of the army personnel with magistracy power during the elections.
The alliance opposes use of electronic voting machine (EVM) in the next elections and also demands release of students who demonstrated for quota reforms and safe road and also of political prisoners.
Jukta Front member secretary and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna read out the joint declaration of the national unity containing 5-point charter of demands and nine major objectives.
Leaders of the two platforms tried to go to the Central Shaheed Minar from the National Press Club to place wreaths there before the announcement of the national unity.
However, they returned as, they said, the Dhaka University authorities asked them not to go there.
(Justnews/ys/2210hr)
