Gonoforum
Montu-led Gonoforum removes Dr Kamal from its chief adviser post
A faction of Gonoforum, led by Mostafa Mohsin Montu, on Tuesday removed party founder Dr Kamal Hossain from the post of chief advisor to its committee.
Besides, the faction’s presidium member Mizanur Rahman was expelled from the party.
Mostafa Mohsin Montu, president of the Gonoforum faction, came up with the announcement at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club.
He said a meeting of their faction’s central committee on Monday unanimously decided to relieve Dr Kamal Hossain from the post of chief advisor and expel Mizanur Rahman from the presidium and the general membership of the party.
Earlier on Saturday, a 101-member committee of Gonofroum, led by Dr Kamal, was announced with Dr Kamal its president and Mizanur Rahman general secretary.
On December 3 last year, Gonoforum suffered a split as the Montu-led group formed a 157-member committee of the party through a council dropping its founder president Dr Kamal Hossain from the post of president. Mizanur Rahman was also made a presidium member of the faction.
At the press conference, Montu turned down a 101-member new committee of Dr Kamal-led faction claiming the formation of the committee was completely unconstitutional and undemocratic. “No committee of Gonorforum can be formed as per whim of any individual. Only the councillors have the jurisdiction to do that.”
He alleged that two more committees of Gonoforum were formed earlier under the leadership of Dr Kamal ignoring the councillors.
“When the senior leaders of the party indulge in undemocratic and unconstitutional activities, the party workers and common people get disappointed. Personally, I respect Dr Kamal Hossain, but his actions in the current political arena are becoming questionable among the common people," Montu said.
A close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Dr Kamal Hossain founded Gonoforum on August 29, 1993 deserting Awami League.
Read: All going pear-shaped for Gonoforum
Dr Kamal has been there in the post of party president since its inception.
Conflicts among the party leaders began after its fifth council held on April 26, 2019, as many party leaders, including then general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, were left out of the committee formed there.
On May 5, 2019, Dr Kamal made Dr Reza Kibria general secretary of Gonoforum, dropping Mostafa Mohsin Montu, widening conflicts among the party leaders.
Amid the internal conflict, Dr Reza Kibria resigned from Gonoforum and its post of general secretary on February 7 last year, but it was not enough to evade a split of the party.
2 years ago
Dr Kamal for formation of structure of neutral polls
Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday suggested the formation of structure of an independent and neutral election to overcome the country’s political crisis.
Speaking at a press conference, he also slammed the Election Commission (EC) for its decision to use EVMs up to 150 seats in next polls ignoring the opinions of most opposition parties, saying it is an alarming sign.
The veteran politician said greed for money and power has sickened the current politics with a terrible disease. “A healthy politics by removing this disease can fulfill the aspirations of people.”
Read: Gonoforum finally splits amid deepening infighting
"We can’t allow the current state of uncertainty to continue. I call upon all conscious citizens, all civic organisations, students, workers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, journalists, other professionals and women's organisations, to come up with a demand for the formation of a structure of a free and fair polls to resolve the crisis,” he said.
Dr Kamal said the electoral system has been destroyed and put into a question through the EC’s move to use the Electric Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming national election.
“The nation wants to get rid of the destroyed electoral system. We all must protect the country with our united efforts,” he said.
“It will surely be possible to save the country and its economy if we all get united. Let’s get united, it’s my call to you. Let’s build people’s unity, citizens’ unity,” he said.
“Go to your respective areas and tell local people that this country belongs to all of us. We should all unite and save this country. I want to put huge emphasis on unity,” Dr Kamal said.
Read: Gano Forum: Hold next national polls under neutral govt
“We have to protect independence through the same unity with which we achieved independence. The state institutions have to be saved from corruption, he said adding the state should be saved from the negligence of the government.
Gonoforum arranged the press conference at the Jatiya Press Club on the country’s overall situation.
At the press conference, a 101-member full-fledged committee of Gonoforum was also announced with Dr Kamal Hossain its President and Mizanur Rahman new General Secretary.
2 years ago
Be vocal against misdeeds: Dr Kamal urges people
Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday called upon the people to be vocal against misdeeds and immoral acts.
“The country is suffering a huge loss because of various immoral acts and misdeeds. Unite people and be vocal against such activities,” he said.
Dr Kamal was addressing virtually the founding anniversary and the first council of new political party, “Noitik Samaj”, at the Jatiya Press Club.
He said the country must be freed from immoral and evil activities. “We hope all of you will continue to work for establishing the rule of law, human security, and good governance in the country.”
Read: All going pear-shaped for Gonoforum
Dr Kamal wished all-out success of the council of Noitik Samaj and urged the party leaders and activists to remain united to ‘restore’ people’s rights and democracy.
On March 30 last year, Maj Gen (retd) AMSA Amin floated "Noitik Samaj" with an aim to create righteous leadership and moral values in politics.
Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the current government is an immoral regime since it has ‘usurped’ power by force indulging in vote ‘robbery’. If you ask any person anywhere in Bangladesh, they will say this government is unscrupulous.”
He came down hard on the government for its failure to prevent the unusual and illogical hike in the prices of all essential commodities.
Manna said people are lining up behind the trucks selling the goods of TCB to buy the essential food items like rice, flour, oil and onion as they are struggling to cope with the skyrocketing prices of the commodities.
Read: PM enjoying lavish concert when people struggling to buy food: BNP
Stating that the country witnessed a big famine in 1974 during the rule of the Awami League, he said a similar situation has now been prevailing as the same party is now in power.
The Ngorik Oikya convener said an interim government will have to be formed after the fall of the Awami League regime for holding a neutral and credible election.
2 years ago
Gonoforum finally splits amid deepening infighting
Gonoforum finally suffered a split as a group of its leaders formed a 157-member new committee of the party on Friday through a council dropping its founder president Dr Kamal Hossain.
Party’s former general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and its ex-executive President Subrata Chowdury were made president and general secretary respectively of the faction at its sixth national council held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
Former party executive president Prof Abu Sayeed announced the names of the 157-member new committee of the faction after an organisational meeting at the council.
He said the new committee was formed based on the opinions of the councillors.
Neither Dr Kamal Hossain nor those who are loyal to him has been included in the committee of the faction.
Read: Govt has to take responsibility if Khaleda faces bad fate: BNP
Of the 157-member committee, there are a seven-member executive body and a 20-member presidium.
The seven executive committee members are Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Prof Abu Sayeed, Subrata Chowdhury, Jaglul Haider Afrik, Mohsin Rashid, Mohiuddin Abdul Kader and Ayub Khan Farroque.
2 years ago
No step to ease public sufferings: Dr Kamal
Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Sunday alleged that no step is being taken to alleviate public sufferings and control the price hike of daily essentials since an “unelected” government has been in power.
In a statement, he also alleged that the government has no control over the market. “Rather it has an entente with an evil syndicate.”
Read: From Glasgow, Hamid tries to justify fuel price hike in Facebook status
Protesting the government’s decision to hike the fuel price, Dr Kamal said transport fares and transposition costs will rise due to the fresh hike in diesel and kerosene prices. “It’ll have an impact on the market and people will suffer as the prices of the daily essentials keep soaring.”
He demanded the withdrawal of the increased prices of diesel and kerosene.
The Gonoforum chief also urged the government to take effective measures to control the soaring prices of daily essentials.
He voiced deep concern that people went through immense sufferings due to transport and launch strike in protest against the fuel price hike. “The government is not taking any step to assuage the sufferings of people and protect them from the increased prices of commodities in the market since it is an unelected regime."
On Wednesday, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene at the retail level.
Read: Fuel price hike a fresh blow to Covid-hit economy: Experts
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said the petroleum prices have been readjusted against the backdrop of the price hike of petroleum on the international market.
Later, the Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordination Council, and bus owners called an indefinite nationwide strike from Friday in protest against the fuel price hike.
3 years ago
Kamal demands abolition of DSA
Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain has demanded the government scrap the Digital Security Act instead of just amending it.
3 years ago
DSA must be repealed: Kamal Hossain
Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Sunday called upon the country’s people to be vocal in demanding the annulment of the Digital Security Act.
3 years ago
Dr Reza Kibria quits Gonoforum
Nearly 26 months after joining the party, Dr Reza Kibria resigned from Gonoforum and its post of general secretary.
3 years ago
Montu-led Gonoforum warns to take action against Dr Kamal
A faction of Gonoforum leaders, led by its former general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, on Wednesday warned of taking organisational action against party president Dr Kamal Hossain if he does not refrain from indulging in its ‘anti-constitutional’ activities.
4 years ago
Democracy must be functional: Dr Kamal
Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday said democracy must be made functional so that the country’s people can exercise their basic rights.
4 years ago