Kamal seeks unity for ‘pure, functional democracy’

Jatiya Oikya Front convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday urged the democratic forces to get united for establishing ‘pure and functional democracy’ in the country.

“As per the constitution, the country is supposed to be ruled by those elected public representatives who will get majority through a free and fair election. We want the country to be governed as per the constitution with ensuring true democracy,” he said.

Dr Kamal further said, “That’s why, I urge all to remain united. We’ll ensure pure and functional democracy, and restore people’s all the basic rights with united efforts upholding the constitution. We’ll surely do it.”
The Oikya Front convener came up with the remarks while speaking at an iftar party arranged by Nagorik Oikya at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium.

Dr Kamal, also the president of Gano Forum, said the unity of people a must to protect the independence earned through the blood of lakhs of martyrs.

“We’ve written in the constitution that multiparty democracy would be there in the country. Leaders of different parties are here on the same stage. There can be differences of opinions among us, but we have to be united on fundamental issues,” he observed.

The Oikya Front chief also said the independence becomes meaningless if people’s ownership of the country cannot be ensured.

He also said those become MPs through a flawed election cannot claim themselves as elected public representatives.

Speaking at the programme, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said those who now run the country do not represent people as they usurped power by force. “They snatched people’s basic rights by cutting Bangladesh’s constitution into pieces.”
He said the government kept ‘mother of democracy’ and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail for a long time only to hang onto power. “They know it very well that they’ll be forced to quit power in the face of a united movement of people if our leader (Khaleda) remains out of jail.”

Fakhrul said it is a better sign that democracy-loving people are now getting united to restore democracy and people’s all the lost rights. “We must defeat the current autocratic regime through a united movement.”

Ex-Gano Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, its executive president Subrata Chowdhury, current general secretary Reza Kibria, JSD general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Hauqe, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University were, among others, present at the programme held with Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna in the chair.