Ganatantra Mancha on Wednesday announced a five-day programme, including a road march, to intensify its ongoing movement to oust the Awami League government. Saiful Haque, the coordinator of the alliance and general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, came up with the announcement of the fresh programmes at a press conference at his party office. The programmes include staging marches on May 23 in Dhaka South and on May 28 in Dhaka North, and a road march towards Dinajpur from Dhaka on June 4 to June 6. Saiful said the common people in the country are going through extreme hardship due to price hike in daily necessities, including food, the crisis of gas, electricity and repeated hikes in the prices of utility services. “The country’s people have been pushed towards an intolerable situation through serious mismanagement in all areas, widespread theft, corruption and unbridled plundering and money laundering. It is very clear that the government can’t run the country," he said. Saiful alleged that the government has put the future of the country’s people and democracy in jeopardy by staying in power by force. “The people of the country can’t accept this situation in any way.” He said they have announced the fresh programmes of the ongoing movement on the basis of their alliance’s 14-point demand to bring a change in the government and governance." As part of their programmes, Saiful said the leaders and activists of the alliance will march towards Bahadur Shah Park from the Jatiya Press Club at 10am on May 23 and while another march will be held in the Badda area on May 28. Read more: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka Earlier on Saturday, BNP announced countrywide rallies on May 19, 20, 26 and 27  to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government and to protest against the arrest and harassment of party leaders and activists in ‘false cases'. PM’s comment on polls-time government unacceptable Speaking at the press conference, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna turned down the Prime Minister’s comment on the formation of the election-time government with her political allies, saying it is a blueprint to confuse people.  "She (PM) has not proposed any interim government. She herself will remain in power...Our point is that this government must go. Then the internal government will be formed,” he observed. About the issue, Saiful Haque said the indication given by the Prime Minister to form an election-time government with her political allies in the Parliament under her leadership is not acceptable in any way." “Such a government is an extension of the current authoritarian oppressive regime.” He said the ‘farcical’ polls in 2014 and 2018 have proved there is no scope to hold a free and fair election under the Awami League government. “That is why we are continuing our efforts to intensify and expand the mass movement with opposition parties, including BNP, in a simultaneous manner based on our 14-points, including the resignation of the current government before the election, dissolution of the Parliament and establishment of the interim government,” Saiful said. Read more: New opposition alliance ‘Ganatantra Mancha’ launched

Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, has announced to form human chains in divisional cities, including Dhaka, on March  11 to press home their 14-point demand, including the resignation of the Awami League government. Rafiqul Islam Babul, the convener of Bhashani Anusari Parishad, announced the fresh programme as part of the ongoing simultaneous movement from a brief rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday. “We announce human chain programme for March 11 to realise our 14-point demand, including protection of voting rights, restoration of democratic rights, the resignation of this government, holding an acceptable election under a non-partisan interim government and reduction of prices of power, gas, and daily essentials,”he said. Also Read: Ganatantra Mancha announces countrywide march on Feb 11 Babul urged the all the partners and organisations of the Ganatantra Mancha to make the fresh programme a success. “Ganatantra Mancha must demonstrate more strength by observing the human chain programme. So, take all out preparations in this regard.” As part of the simultaneous movement, leaders and activists of Ganatantra Mancha gathered in front of the Jatiya Press Club around 11:30am. After the rally there, the leaders and activists of the alliance marched toward Kakrail, to press home their 14-point demand. Apart from Ganatantra Mancha, BNP and its different other opposition parties and organisations are holding a similar programme in all wards under the metropolitan cities across the country.  

Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, has announced a march and mass campaign programme across the country on February 11 (Saturday) to press home their 14-point demand, including the resignation of the Awami League government. Saiful Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, announced the fresh programmes as part of the ongoing simultaneous movement from a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday. “We announce a nationwide march and mass campaign programme on February 11, to realise our 14-point demand, including protection of voting rights, restoration of democratic rights, the resignation of this government, holding an acceptable election under a non-partisan interim government and reduction of prices of power, gas, and daily essentials,” he said. Apart from Ganatantra Mancha, Saiful hoped that BNP and other opposition parties and alliances who are on the simultaneous movement will also announce the same programme from their respective positions. Read more: New opposition alliance ‘Ganatantra Mancha’ launched In Dhaka, he said Ganatantra Mancha will start march from Mirpur-12 at 10 am towards Motijhleel via Farmgate, Shahbagh, and Paltan. At the same time, Saiful said their alliance will observe a similar programme at the district and divisional levels all over the country. He said people have started taking to the streets and they will not return home until the government is ousted. As part of a countrywide programme of the simultaneous movement, Ganatantra Mancha arranged the rally, to push for their 14-point demand. After the rally, the leaders and activists of the alliance brought out a procession toward Kakrail. Meanwhile, BNP began a rally at 2pm in front of its Nayapaltan central office to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the government and holding the next election under a non-party caretaker government. The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies started gathering Nayapaltan at noon to join the rally. Read more: BNP unveils 4-day march programme in Dhaka from Jan 28 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the rally as the chief guest. He can announce a countrywide march programme on February 11 like Ganatantra Mancha. BNP is also holding rallies in all other divisions of the country also to protest the hikes in power and gas tariffs and repression on the opposition leaders and activists.        

Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, has announced protest rallies in all districts of the country on January 25 as part of its ongoing movement against the government. Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, General Secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), announced the new sets of programs from today’s demonstration in Dhaka, protesting electricity price hike. “January 25 is a scandalous day in the history of our politics. A one-party system (BaKSAL) was introduced on this day, and our democracy, freedom of the press, and voting rights were taken away,” he said. “We will hold protest rallies in all districts on that day to establish voting rights, a democratic regime, to save the people, and overthrow this illegal government,” he added. Around hundreds of leaders and activists from the alliance joined today’s demonstration. Saiful Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, said that Bangladesh would not have had to take a $4.5 billion IMF loan if “there were no corruption and looting over the last 14 years.” Also Read: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganasamhati Andolon, said there can be no election under the current government. “The BNP and other parties are also protesting. We will continue our fight to overthrow the government and establish voting rights,” he said. Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Mir Mofazzel Hossain, Habibur Rahman Habib of Bangladesh Bhasani Parishad, Hasnat Kayum, chief coordinator Rastra Songskar Andolon, and Shahidullah Kaiser, General Secretary of Nagarik Oikya, also spoke at today's demonstration. Also Read: Ganatantra Mancha unveils 14-point for simultaneous anti-govt movement The alliance of seven opposition parties was launched on August 8 last year with the objective to conduct a united movement against the government. The components of the alliance are: Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, Ganasamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad, and Rastra Sangskar Andolon.  

Ganatantra Mancha, a political platform of seven opposition parties, on Monday announced a 14-point demand for waging a simultaneous movement with BNP to oust the current Awami League government and bring a qualitative change in the governance system. Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the platform and the president of Nagorik Oikya, unveiled the 14-point demands at a press conference at the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad office in the city’s Topkhana Road area.  He said the Ganatantra Mancha leaders will go to BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday to witness the devastation caused by the police operation on December 7. Read more: Ganatantra Mancha rally in city adds to opposition's momentum Besides, a liaison committee will be formed very soon to initiate the simultaneous movement with the party. Earlier on Saturday, BNP standing committee leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain placed a 10-point demand from the party’s rally in the capital to start the simultaneous movement on December 24 through a mass processions programme. "We want a qualitative change in the (governance system of the) state. That is why we are placing the 14 points. We’ve also given BNP our points and we’ll discuss those points,” Manna said. As per the current constitution, the Nagorik Oikya leader said the Prime Minister is more powerful than a Mughal Emperor as she can do whatever she wants. It can’t continue and the constitution must be amended.” “In order to establish the basic democratic rights of the people as a whole and to ensure their economic prosperity, we think that there should be substantial reforms in the administration, laws, and constitution of the country,” he observed. Read more: Hasan Mahmud dismisses Ganatantra Mancha as out-of-touch, insignificant The 14-point demand includes the dissolution of parliament, resignation of the government, formation of a neutral polls-time interim government for a free, fair, and credible national election, reconstitution of the election commission, stopping the use of excessive money in the election and nomination trade, amending the RPO, bringing change in administration, using ballot papers instead of EVMs and annulling the use of party symbol in the local government polls. Besides, steps should be taken for establishing a balance of power between parliament, appointing the ombudsman, establishing a constitutional court, reforming article 70 of the constitution, introducing a proportional electoral system and bicameral parliament system along with direct elections, and establishing a rational balance of powers between the Prime Minister and the President. The other demands of the Ganatantra Mancha are release of all political prisoners, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, ensuring no barrier to political activities and meetings and rallies, scrapping all black laws including the Digital Security Act-2018 and the Special Power Act 1974 and ending harassment of the workers in the name of Industrial Police. The 14 points have many similarities with the BNP’s 10 points as the Ganatantra Mancha added some points to the BNP’s demands.

BNP and ‘Ganatantra Mancha' on Tuesday reached a consensus to wage a movement together to oust the current Awami League government for holding a credible election and reform the state. "We have agreed in today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting that we will carry out a simultaneous movement to create a mass uprising against the present government through greater national unity. We’ve already started working in this regard,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after a dialogue between the leaders of BNP and Ganatantra Mancha at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. During the talks, Fakhrul said they discussed how to reform the state governance system. "We hope we would be able to agree on the matter through more discussions in the days to come.” He said they will have more discussions in the future to complete the process. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) President ASM Abdur Rob said, "Today is a historic day for Bangladesh.  A message will be sent to the entire world that the political parties and the people of Bangladesh have forged a greater national unity today to remove the present autocratic regime, that came to power illegally by stealing votes in the dark of night,” Rob said. Based on the unity, he said they will also repair and reform the state and the constitution, and carry out the movement and join the election together. Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said they are united to wage a simultaneous anti-government movement. “I can say we’re in the movement from today and will remain in it in the future." Liaison committee to be formed Fakhrul said a huge enthusiasm has already been created among the people of Bangladesh to unseat the government through a united movement. “So, we’ve decided that we’ll form a liaison committee based on discussions with the political parties so that it (simultaneous movement) can be launched as early as possible,” he said. The BNP leader said the liaison committee will determine the goals, points, programmes, and the outline of the simultaneous movement.  “We have agreed on the matter." Chief Coordinator of Gano Samhati Andolan Zonayed Saki said they reached an understanding that the parties, which are going to launch the movement, will not go to any election under the present government. He said they want the resignation of the Awami League government and the next polls to be held under a neutral interim government. After the polls, Saki said a qualitative change in the governance of Bangladesh will be brought through constitutional reforms. Earlier, Fakhrul sat in talks with a delegation of the ‘Ganatantra Mancha' at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office at 11:40am and the meeting lasted for around two hours. BNP standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were also present at the meeting. The Ganatantra Mancha delegations include JSD's Abdur Rob and Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan; Nagorik Oikya's Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Shahidullah Qaiser; Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party's Saiful Haque and Akbar Khan; Gano Samhati Andolan's Zonayed Saki and Abul Hasan Rubel; Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Farooq Hasan, Bhasani Onusari Parishad’s Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu and Habibur Rahman Riju and Rastra Sangskar Andolon’s Imran Imon and Syed Hasib Uddin Hossain. About the absence of the top leaders of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, the Ganatantra Mancha leaders said its convener Reza Kibria was staying abroad and member secretary Nurul Haque Nur had a scheduled meeting with an embassy. On August 8, ‘Ganatantra Mancha, a new platform of seven opposition parties, was launched with the objective to oust the government through a united movement. The components of the alliance are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Gonosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad and Rastra Sangskar Andolon. This was their first meeting with BNP after the formation of 'Ganatantra Manch'. As part of BNP’s second phase of talks to forge national unity for a united movement, Fakhrul sat with the opposition platform. BNP began its second phase of dialogue on October 2 to finalise the demands of the planned simultaneous movement. Earlier, BNP had discussions with 23 parties during its first phase of talks that began on May 24 to work out the outline for launching a united movement to 'restore' democracy and people’s voting rights.

The newly formed 'Ganatantra Mancha', a new political alliance of seven isolated parties has no importance in the political field or in polls, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday. Each member of the alliance is detached from the people and abandoned in politics, he said while replying to the reporter over the alliance of seven parties at his official residence in the capital. "Since they themselves are insignificant, they are only trying to increase their importance significance by forming an alliance, nothing else," he added. Read:BNP sees Ganatantra Mancha in line with its call for united opposition Earlier in the morning, the minister visited the family of Taslima Begum Renu, who was lynched over a toxic rumour of child trafficking ring somehow related to Padma Bridge, outside a school in Mohakhali, where she had gone to seek her own child's admission. Hasan handed over financial assistance on behalf of Awami League. Hasan said victim Renu went to a school to talk about her child's admission, but she was brutally killed in a mob beating in 2019 following BNP-Jamaat's rumour that blood and human sacrifice would be needed for Padma Bridge construction. ”This is not acceptable by any means," he said, adding that many persons were killed because of the rumour. He assured the victim's family of providing support to the trial of the murder case. Hasan also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a directive to stand by such victims.

Welcoming the new political platform bringing together 7 political parties, BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday said the emergence of an opposition alliance is a success for their party’s move to wage a united movement against the current government. “We welcome the launch of Ganatantra Mancha. We have long been making the demands those they (new alliance) have mentioned,” he said. Talking to reporters before a doa mahfil-cum discussion, the BNP leader said their party have been saying this regime has to resign and no election can be held under it, the parliament must be dissolved, the next polls must be arranged under a non-party neutral government and the Election Commission must be reconstituted. “We have seen they (new alliance) are also making the same demands. So, we think this is a success of our efforts to initiate a united movement. We think this is a step forward for the future united movement,” he observed. BNP arranged the programme at its Nayapaltan central office marking the Holy Ashura. Read: Hasan Mahmud dismisses Ganatantra Mancha as out-of-touch, insignificant Earlier on Monday, "Ganatantra Mancha”, (Democracy Forum) a new platform of seven opposition parties, was launched with the objective to oust the current government through a united movement. The components of the alliance are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Gonosamhati Andolon,  Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad and Rastra Sangskar Andolon. Asked about the progress in their move to float a greater platform with the opposition parties for a simultaneous movement, Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member said, they are still working on it very carefully so that no one can foil their efforts. As his attention was drawn to BNP standing committee members’ comments that this government cannot be ousted without harsher programmes like hartal and blockade, he said their party had been on a movement with harsher progrmames in 2014 and 2015. “There are many ministers who also say, we cannot wage a movement…movement means people's protest and resistance in an organised way. It can be through hartal or through various other ways. It's not like we can’t enforce a hartal or a blockade.  But why should we do it randomly at an inappropriate time?” Nazrul said. Stating that political parties are getting organised against the government’s incompetence and failure to run the state, he said people will participate in their parogrammes tremendously in the days to come out of their growing anger. The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party leaders are making unguarded remarks about BNP and its movement out of fear to face a fall. “There is reason to be confused with their remarks. They are in great danger."

Ganatantra Mancha”, a new platform of seven opposition parties, was launched on Monday with the objective to oust the government through a united movement. The components of the alliance are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Gonosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad and Rastra Sangskar Andolon. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob) President ASM Abdur Rob made a formal announcement about the platform at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU). Also read: Fuel Price Hike: Jatiya Party announces two-day protest programme He said they floated the alliance due to the unavoidable necessity of history for building Bangladesh based on the spirit of the liberation war and the aspirations of people. “This platform has been formed with an aim to oust the dictatorial government, changing the state’s governance system, ensuring the constitutional reform and repairing the state,” Rob said. He urged people from all walks of life, including journalists, lawyers, professionals, workers, students, teachers, engineers, doctors, intellectuals and the youth to join the platform for carrying out a struggle for rebuilding the nation. The JSD president alleged that the current government has got isolated from people as it has usurped power by rigging votes. “We make an open declaration that you must go and you must quit power. This government will be overthrown through a mass upsurge.” He said their alliance will wage a movement for the restoration of democracy. “We call upon people to join the movement. Everyone must take to the streets for democracy.” Also read: Don't cry, wake up: Fakhrul to BNP activists Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna presented the framework of the 'Ganotantra Manch' at the press conference. He said the country’s people want a greater united movement on the streets with specific goals for bringing a change in the government. “That’s why we consider it an urgent duty to take to the streets by forging a greater unity of political parties, people of all strata, all organisations and social forces as per the aspirations of people." Manna said their platform thinks it will not be possible to restore people’s voting rights, and democratic system, and establish a polls-time interim government for a fair and credible election without removing the current ‘fascist’ regime. He said the objective of their alliance is to force the government to step down, dissolve parliament and hand over power to an interim government based on a political consensus. “This interim government will reconstitute the Election Commission, make necessary administrative reforms, make appropriate reforms in the Political Party Registration Act, RPO and the electoral laws to ensure a citizen's right to vote, and abolish the EVM system,” Manna said. He said Ganatantra Mancha will stage a demonstration in the capital on Aug 11 in protest against repressions, attacks and brutality by police, the increase in prices of goods, fuel and the government’s indifference to public suffering. Before the 2018 election, JSD, Nagorik Oikya and Gonoforum together with BNP had formed a political platform, Jatiya Oikyafront. But the platform gradually became inactive after the election. Meanwhile, BNP initiated talks with the opposition political parties on May 24 last to work out the outline for launching a united movement against the government. Amid BNP’s ongoing talks with the political parties, Ganatantra Mancha started its journey on Monday.

BNP on Tuesday sat with Ganosanghati Andolan in the city as part of its ongoing dialogue with political parties to forge a strong unity for a greater movement for the "restoration" of democracy. A BNP delegation, led by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir joined the talks around 12:15pm at Ganosanghati Andolan’s Hatirpool central office. Amid the speculation about the formation of a new political platform, 'Ganatantra Mancha', by seven parties, BNP is holding the talks with one of its probable components Ganosanghati Andolan. Also read: BNP vows to overcome intimidation, repression: Fakhrul The other BNP delegation members include its standing committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuk and former MP Zahir Uddin Swapan. Ganosanghati Andolan’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, its executive coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel, political council member Taslima Akhter, party leaders Hasan Maruf Rumi, Bachchu Bhuiyan, Deepak Roy, Shyamoli Shil and Mizanur Rahman, among others, took part in the talks. On May 24, BNP formally began a dialogue with other opposition parties with the first meeting with Nagorik Oikya aimed at forging unity among opposition political parties. Also read: AL leaders to leave country bowing heads: Fakhrul Three days later, the party also sat with the Labour Party, one of the components of the 20-party alliance. The BNP standing committee decided to hold talks with political parties and finalise an outline of a united movement through the discussions.