Sylhet, Oct 24 (UNB) - Jatiya Oikyafront senior leaders offered fateha at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R), Shah Paran (R) and the grave of General MAG Osmani here before holding their maiden public rally in the city on Wednesday.

Arriving here in the morning, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, its general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury went to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R).

Later, they offered fateha at Osmani’s grave and at the shrine of Shah Paran (R).

Earlier on Tuesday night, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and Oikya Prokriya leader Sultan Mohammad Mansur offered fateha at the two shrines and Osmani’s grave.

The Oikyafront’s rally will begin at the city’s Registry Field around 2pm aiming to mobilise public support in favour of its 7-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party administration.

It is the first political programme of the new alliance of four parties--BNP, Gano Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) and Nagorik Oaky-- since its formation on October 13.

Dr Kamal will address the rally as the chief guest while Mirza Fakhrul as the main speaker with City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury in the chair.

Sylhet district BNP president Abul Kaher Shamim said people from the city and its adjoining districts are set to join the programme. “We expect a huge gathering of people in our programme.”  
  
After the Sylhet Rally, Oikyafront is scheduled to hold another such programme at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram city on October 27.

Dhaka, Oct 23 (UNB) – President of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Oli Ahmed on Tuesday called upon the government to take immediate steps for talks with political parties to avoid bloodshed over the upcoming general election.

“The days ahead will be very difficult ones. There’ll be more disorder and bloodshed with the passage of time. The opposition parties must exercise restraint while the government must be liberal,” he said.

Oli further said, “I would like to urge Bangabandhu’s daughter to avoid bloodshed for a free and fair election. The problem will not be resolved by hurling abusive or issuing threats. Hold talks (to resolve the problem).” 

He came up with the remarks at a programme at Tejgaon office of LDP, one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

Oli also urged the government to soften its stance on the next general election to show people the path of light.

The LDP president also said the participation of all parties is necessary for ensuring a fair and credible election.  

He said people will determine which party should rule the country through a participatory election. “The government will have to be more liberal in this regard.” 

The LDP leader also warned the government that people will not allow it to cling onto power by holding another ‘lopsided’ election.
 

Sylhet, Oct 23 (UNB) - Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, is going to hold its public rally in the city on Wednesday to mobilise public support in favour of the alliance’s 7-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party administration.

It is the first political programme of the new alliance of four parties--BNP, Gano Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) and Nagorik Oaky-- since its formation on October 13.

Local BNP and Oikyafront leaders said they have taken all-out preparations to stage a big showdown through the rally to be started around 2pm at the city’s Registry Field.

Dr Kamal will address the rally as the chief guest while BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the main speaker with Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury in the chair.
 
Before the start of the rally, the senior leaders of the Oikyafront will visit the Shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R), Shah Paran (R) and the grave of General MAG Osmani.

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, Oikya Prokriya convener Mostafa Amin, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury arrived in the city by air in the evening.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, JSD president ASM Abdur Rob and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna are scheduled to arrive here on Wednesday morning.

Talking to UNB, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they will start their alliance’s first political programme from the sacred land of Hazrat Shahjalal (R), Shah Paran (R) in Sylhet on Wednesday. 

“We’ll drum up public support in favour of our seven-point demand for restoration of democracy. We hope several lakh democracy-loving people will participate in our rally,” he said.

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said they will hold the rally to push for their demands for the installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of parliament, reconstitution the Election Commission, release of all political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.

“We together with people won’t allow the government this time to hold an ordinary election like January-5 one of 2014” he added.

BNP vice chairmen Barkatullah Bulu, Mohammad Shahjahan, Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya leader Sultan Mohammad Mansur in coordination with local leaders are completing all the preparations to stage the rally.

Sylhet district BNP president Abul Kaher Shamim said they have started making the stage of the rally from Monday afternoon. “We’ve almost completed our preparations for the rally.”

He said people from the city and its adjoining districts are very keen to participate in the programme. “We expect a huge gathering of people in our programme.”   

However, Sylhet BNP general secretary Ali Ahmed alleged police conducted raids on many houses of their party leaders and activists on Monday night to create panic among people.

He alleged that law enforcers also obstructed their party men in different areas from carrying out campaigns for the rally.
Contacted, Sylhet Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Sohel Reza said they conducted the raids to arrest the accused persons in different cases, not to intimidate any one.
   
After the Sylhet Rally, Oikyafront is scheduled to hold another such programme at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram city on October 27.
 

Dhaka, Oct 22 (UNB) – In the wake of criticisms by ruling party leaders over his party’s alliance with BNP, Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Monday said he has neither any desire to contest any election nor to get any state post.

Speaking at a press conference, he also said Jatiya Oikyafront is not any electoral alliance as it was formed to work for ensuring a free and fair election.

Kamal Hossain also said Oikyafront has no relation with Jamaat and with any individual like BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. “In any way it should be construed as support for the Jamaat or any relation with any particular leader, including Tarique Rahman.”

“I’m happy to clarify, for those who have been making virulent, baseless, and persistent personal attacks on me, that I’ve no desire to be a candidate in any election or to seek any public office. I’ll continue to work towards building a democratic, secular and pluralistic society,” he added.

Gano Forum arranged the press meet at the Jatiya Press Club.
 
Amid the growing public concern over the next election, Kamal said they engaged in dialogues amongst parties and civil society groups so that the nation can reach a consensus to bring about necessary reforms.

“I’m concerned to learn that our shared efforts to work towards a fair and free election, which could be the basis of a democratic form of governance, have been misconstrued. In responding to these public concerns several of us have engaged in national dialogues, across parties and civil society groups to suggest what reforms are necessary to ensure such conditions. These dialogues have led to the initiative of the Jatiya Oikyafront,” he said.      

The Gono Forum president also said the Oikyafront will continue to work for unity of different parties and citizen groups to realise its aims.

He said they are now working to mobilise public opinions on a fair and credible election through their different visits to different parts of the country. “If the election is held in a fair and credible manner it can contribute towards restoring democracy and democratic rule.”

Kamal hoped that there will have no controversy over their party’s initiative to form the Oikyafront through his today’s clarification.

Replying to a question, he said mobilising public opinion is part of Oikyafront’s movement as he thinks public opinion will mount pressure on the government to concede to their demands.

Asked what programmes they may take if the government does not accept their demands, Kamal said they will think about it deeply and then work out suitable programmes.

He said Oikyafront may send the letter to the government on Tuesday urging it to engage in talks over the next polls before announcement of the election schedule.

As his attention was drawn to the government’s stance not to accept any unconstitutional demands like formation of the election-time neutral administration and dissolution of parliament, Kamal said such provisions were there in the Constitution, but it was amended.

Sought his comment on MP’s criticisms in Parliament about his role in politics and in the Liberation War, he said he will come up with the clarification over the issues if he deems it necessary.
 
Replying to another question, Kamal said they formed the alliance with BNP, but they have no contact with Tarique, and they do not feel it necessary to communicate with him.
 

Dhaka, Oct 22 (UNB) – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government has been filing ‘fictitious’ cases to suppress political activists.

“We’re now deprived of all democratic rights, and we’re not allowed to hold meetings and rallies. The government is suppressing and harassing the political activists by implicating them with fictitious cases,” he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while attending a namaz-e-janaza of party’s information and research affairs secretary Abu Syeed Khan Khokon in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

Khokon died on Sunday night while undergoing treatment at United Hospital   at the age of 65.

Fakhrul prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to his bereaved family members.

Later, Khokon’s janaza was held with the participation of several hundred party leaders and activists. 

On behalf of the party, Fakhrul along with party standing committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Nazrul Islam Khan placed a wreath at Khokon’s coffin paying last respect to him.