They include 28 vying for chairman, 24 for vice-chairman and 21 for vice-chairman’s seats reserved for women
Dr Kamal Hossain asks lawyers to hit the streets for fair elections
Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain thinks it is time to hit the streets to demand free and fair general elections.
Published : 4 May 2018, 06:15 PM
Updated : 4 May 2018, 06:22 PM
Speaking at a discussion at the Supreme Court Bar Association on Friday, he urged lawyers to step forward and lead the movement.
“Let us forget political differences and unite for free and fair elections,” he said.
He criticised the ruling Awami League, saying, “Autocracy can never continue in Bangladesh.”
With only a few months remaining before the next parliamentary elections, Dr Kamal said, “This is not the time (to remain silent). We will have to take responsibilities to safeguard the rights of the people, which we have done all along. Come forward to play that role again.
“Involve the lawyers in all the districts. I hope democracy will be established if the people get united,” the senior lawyer added.
He also said even the international communities were pressuring for an inclusive election.
“It’s a matter of shame that the foreigners are saying that they don’t want an election like that of 2014,” he said.
The Awami League formed the government after getting re-elected in the 2014 elections amid a violent boycott by the BNP and its allies as their demand for a non-partisan polls-time government was not met.
The BNP and its allies are also demanding an election-time government this time, with the elections scheduled for December.
He also recalled how ‘he led the lawyers’ against military dictator HM Ershad and forced him to quit.
Pro-BNP professionals’ leader Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury also spoke at the discussion.
Besides Dr Kamal, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Nagorik Oikya’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna would play a role ‘to revive democracy’ in Bangladesh, the Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder hoped.
Among others, Manna, lawyer Shahdeen Malik, SCBA President Zainul Abedin, and lawyer and BNP leader Khandaker Mahbub Hossain spoke at the discussion moderated by SCBA General Secretary Mahbub Uddin Khokon.
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