Gonoforum founder and its president emeritus Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday urged the country’s political parties and people to extend their full cooperation to the interim government and give it a reasonable time to implement necessary state reforms. "It is the moral responsibility of all political parties and citizens to provide their full cooperation to the current interim government and allow it a reasonable period of time to carry out reforms," he said while addressing the 7th National Council of Gonoforum at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Dr Kamal said the state's democratic institutions have become nearly dysfunctional due to blatant politicisation over the past 16 years. He said an interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, was established with the aim of reforming these institutions and creating a conducive environment for fair elections. He said a national consensus has been forged in support of the interim government to achieve its desired goals and effectively implement the necessary reforms. "This consensus must be upheld until the end. To ensure this, I believe a national dialogue involving all democratic political parties, individuals, and civil society is essential." Dr Kamal now Gono Forum's president emeritus, Montu president Dr Kamal also said the students and the mass people have once again demonstrated that this country belongs to its people, not to any dictator. He called upon people to step forward and help build a humane Bangladesh, free from discrimination, upholding the spirit of the great Liberation War of 1971 and the student movement of 2024. "Let us unite in the struggle to build a new nation.” Dr Kamal said Gonoforum has never compromised its principles during its 31-year political journey. In the current circumstances, he expressed hope that the leaders and workers of Gonoforum would embark on a fresh journey, rising above divisions and misunderstandings within the party, through its national council. Earlier, Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, the father of Mohammad Farhanul Islam Bhuiyan, who was tragically killed during the July-August movement, inaugurated the Gonoforum council. During the council, the new central committee of Gonoforum was formed, with Dr Kamal Hossain as Emeritus President, Mostafa Mohsin Montu as President, and Dr Mizanur Rahman as General Secretary.

Dr Kamal Hossain, one of the leading authors of the Bangladesh constitution and eminent lawyer, said on Thursday that it is a matter of sorrow that parliamentary democracy has not been established effectively in the country. “We’ve seen how religion was misused during the pre-independence period. That’s why we tried to create a secular constitution. It’s a matter of sorrow that we couldn’t make parliamentary democracy effective in our country,” Dr Kamal said. He made the remarks as Chief Guest at a programme organised by the Department of Government and Politics of Jahangirnagar University to mark 50 years of the Bangladesh constitution on Thursday. Read: No step to ease public sufferings: Dr Kamal Kamal also talked about various aspects of the constitution and the role that the young generation should play, saying that people have to take part in the governance process. Later, he attended a views exchange meeting with journalists where he avoided answering questions regarding alleged laundering of money abroad and “anti-Bangladesh activities” of his son-in-law David Bergman.

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Sunday said the current government must be ‘ousted’ through a united movement to save people from ‘misrule’ and ‘autocracy’. “We're the victims of misrule and dictatorship. We must be freed from it. We can't allow the country to be run like this. We must bring change through a movement by uniting people,” he said. The Gonoforum chief said the Awami League government has ‘stolen’ and ‘siphoned off’ huge money by indulging in widespread corruption. “They amassed huge wealth.  We’ll have to remove this regime." READ: Dr Kamal demands immediate release of journalist Rozina Dr Kamal made the remarks while speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 28th founding anniversary of Gonoforum. He said there has been unity among people, but opposition parties need to reinforce it to form a government with public mandate. “We must come forward to save the country with the power of people. We need to start it now as a huge time has already elapsed.” Dr Kamal said people can now understand that they have to be united to get rid of repression and misrule. “We unitedly resisted the Pakistanis. I believe that if we now use that unity, we can make the impossible possible. We’ll unite people for the movement by going from house to house and from field to field.” The Gonoforum President, however, said their party does not want any violent movement. “We’ve to wage a movement for unity and build the country.” He said the country can be freed from corruption and plundering by empowering people and establishing a pro-people government. “We must establish a functional democracy where parliament will be constituted with people's representatives. People want us to save the country. We have a bright future ahead of us." Dr Kamal said they want to use all the resources of the country for the development of the nation by using people as the Bengali nation has immense power of production. READ: Gonoforum now united as internal feuds resolved: Dr Kamal He said Awami League formed the government through ‘vote robbery’. “It has curtailed the freedom of expression of civil society and journalists by enacting the Digital Security Act. Dr Kamal voiced concern over the human rights situation in the country and said repression and human rights violations at the hands of law enforcement have become a common affair in Bangladesh. “Bangabandhu did not dream of such a Bangladesh.”

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday demanded the immediate resale of Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam from jail as he thinks she was implicated in a ‘false case’ by bureaucrats. “Where’s the barrier to granting bail to Rozina when the entire journalist community, political parties, human rights organisations and eminent citizens of the country are demanding her release?” he said. Dr Kamal said, “We demand that Rozina be freed immediately and we all are her guarantors.” Also read: Don’t judge Rozina issue emotionally: Info Minister to journalists He made the remarks in a written statement at a civic rally in front of the National Museum in the city’s Shahbagh area demanding the release of Rozina and annulment of the Official Secrets Act and the Digital Security Act. Gonoforum Joint general secretary Mostaq Ahmed read out the statement at the rally in favour of Dr Kamal. Dr Kamal said Rozina went to the Secretariat on May 17 to perform her professional responsibility. Also read: Rozina to get fair judgement: FM tells CNN As she published reports on massive corruption in the health ministry, the Gonoforum President said bureaucrats harassed her for five hours and handed her over to police by implicating her in a ‘false’ case. “It’s our question as to why journalist Rozina was confined to a room at the Secretariat till 8pm,” he said. Dr Kamal also demanded the government repeal the Official Secrets Act and Digital Security Act and ensure press freedom. Also read: Order on journalist Rozina Islam’s bail Sunday He urged all to get united to force the government to revoke all the ‘black’ laws and ‘restore’ people’s voting rights. Speaking at the rally, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury voiced anger as a Dhaka court did not pass its order on a bail petition of Rozina in a bailable case on Thursday. He urged the journalists to get united putting behind their divisions to establish their rights and ensure press freedom. Also read: Drop all "oppressive charges" against Rozina: HRW Nagroik Oikay convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dhaka University professor Asif Nazrul, chief coordinator of Ganosanghati Andolon Zonayed Saki, noted photographer Shahidul Alam and former Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) vice president Nurul Haque Nur, among others, spoke at the programme.

A group of noted citizens, including Dr Kamal Hossain, on Saturday demanded the release of over 50 students, belonging to Chhatra Odhikar Parishad arrested around two months backs, on bail before Eid-ul-Fitr. They made the demand at a press conference at the conference room of the Gonoshasthaya Kendra in the city’s Dhanmondi area. On May 5, 18 eminent citizens sent a letter to Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain requesting him to take steps to remove the barriers to the release of the arrested students on bail. The students were arrested during their protests against the Digital Security Act and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bangladesh. Joining the press conference virtually, Gonoforum President and veteran jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said the arrested students should be granted bail. “Bail is a matter of rights, not a matter of mercy.” He said students always work to mobilise public opinion and wage movements on different important and time-befitting issues. “We’ve always encouraged this practice. So, the students should be granted bail.” Mentioning that the judiciary has a long tradition of granting bail to student leaders, he said even the lower court played a courageous role in giving bail to students in the past.  “We can recall that leaders had been taken to jail for their various remarks during the tough movements in the past. But they were given bail by the court immediately after filing petitions.” He said people had been kept in jail by implicating them in Agartala conspiracy case. “We then showed the power of court by securing bail for them. “The lower court used to grant bail whoever was caught in the past.” Speaking at the press conference, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said getting bail is people’s human and legal right. “Now our main problem is that judges are no longer driver by  conscience. They’re heavily controlled by the government and the police.  He said it has been over a month since the cases were filed against the students, but they are not being granted bail. “Five similar cases were filed and it’s necessary to get bail in all the cases which is a long trial process. A specific directive should be given by the Chief Justice in this regard.” Stating that eid will be celebrated within a few days, he urged the Chief Justice to ensure bail for the students before the festival exercising the judiciary’s constitutional power. “It must be remembered that these students have been created today's Bangladesh. The Bengali language was established as the students waged the language movement.” Earlier, Dhaka University teacher Prof Asif Nazrul read out the letter sent to the Chief Justice by the 18 eminent on citizens on May 5 in this regard. Freedom fighter Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Zonayed Saki, writer and anthropologist Rehnuma Ahmed, noted photographer Shahidul Alam, and former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Nurul Haque Nur, among others, spoke at the programme. Eighteen noted citizens who sent the letter to the Chief Justice include Dr Kamal Hossain, Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, Dr Zafrullah, Barrister Mainul Hosein, Hafizuddin Khan, ASM Abur Rob, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Badiul Alam Majumder, Prof Dilara Chowdhury, Rehnuma Ahmed, Dr Reza Kibria, Asif Nazrul and Zonayed Saki.

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain has demanded the government scrap the Digital Security Act instead of just amending it.

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.

Nearly 26 months after joining the party, Dr Reza Kibria resigned from Gonoforum and its post of general secretary.

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.

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday said democracy must be made functional so that the country’s people can exercise their basic rights.