Bangladesh is going to polls on Dec 30, 2018 to elect the members of parliament.
Ten former army, air force officers join Dr Kamal’s Gono Forum as polls near
As many as 10 former officers of the army and the air force have joined the Gono Forum led by Dr Kamal Hossain ahead of the general elections.
Published : 19 Nov 2018, 02:06 PM
Updated : 19 Nov 2018, 05:10 PM
The former army officers are retired lieutenant pcolonels Khandakar Faridul Akbar, Sheikh Akram Ali, Mohammad Shahidullah and AFM Nuruddin, and retired majors Masudul Hasan, Md Emran and Badrul Alam Siddiqui.
The officers from the air force are retired squadron leaders Forkan Alam Khan, Md Habib Ullah and Md Mahmud.
Gono Forum Executive President Subrata Chowdhury welcomed the former military officers to the party at Dr Kamal’s chamber in Dhaka’s Motijheel on Monday.
“Our new journey in politics has started through the joining of the former officers. We will work together for the country,” he said.
Dr Kamal recently formed the Jatiya Oikya Front alliance with the BNP, the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD of ASM Abdur Rab, the Nagorik Oikya of Mahmudur Rahman Manna and the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya of Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed. Abdul Kader Siddique’s Krishak Sramik Janata League later joined in.
The alliance initially demanded release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia from jail and formation of a nonpartisan government before holding the polls, but later decided to join the elections slated for Dec 30.
“Now the struggle is for restoration of democracy,” Subrata said, adding he believes the next election is the “last chance for Bangladesh to restore the citizens’ right to vote”.
RELATED STORIES
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged voters to elect Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the illustrious ODI cricket captain and Awami League candidate for Narail-2, in the Dec 30 polls.
The Awami League has received a record percentage of votes in the recent general election that also served BNP its biggest ever defeat.
The ruling Awami League has given its initial approval to the candidates who will compete for the party in the coming 11th parliamentary election.
