Leaders to go ahead with initiative to forge ‘national unity’

Newly floated Jukto (United) Front and Gano Forum have decided to carry forward the initiative to forge a national unity ahead of the next general elections.

At a crucial meeting on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the process formed a four-member sub-committee to work out the details of the unity, including agenda and common goals of the political process.

“At this critical juncture, we’ve decided to work together. We’ve constituted a sub-committee which will finalise the next course,” Front leader, and president of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury told newsmen after the meeting at Gano Forum president Kamal Hossain’s Bailey Road residence in the city.

The Front will hold a public rally on 22 September, said B Chowdhury, a former president of Bangladesh.

He, however, denied holding any discussion on joining of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the United Front.

Only founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Zafrullah Chowdhury, who maintains liaison between the Front and the BNP, was present at the meeting.

Four members of the sub-committee are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Nagorik Oikya leader Zahidur Rahman, Gano Forum general secretary Mostafa Muhsin Montu and BDB secretary general Abdul Mannan.

JSD president ASM Abdur Rab and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna were also present at the meeting, apart from Kamal Hossain and Badruddoza Chowdhury.

Kamal Hossain has been for quite some time talking about a national alliance in order to bring changes in national politics, and ensure free and fair elections and good governance in the country.

B Chowdhury has led the process of formation of the Jukta Front with simialr goals, engaging Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Nagorik Oikya besides his Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh.

The BNP as well is working on forging a greater alliance to get rid of what it calls 'misrule' of the Awami League and ensure free and fair elections in the country.
Some political parties are unwilling to join the greater alliance involving the BNP since, they argued, Jamaat-e-Islami is a key component of the BNP-led 20 party alliance.

The BNP has decided to join the process of forging national alliance with other political parties, side by side consolidating its alliance, as suggested by jailed party chief Khaleda Zia.

Sources in the BNP said Zafrullah Chowdhury has been working to help make an alliance with the parties other than the government-led 14-party alliance.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been monitoring the process, party leaders said.