Stumbling blocks on path to ‘nat’l unity’

Greater national unity, comprising the BNP and like-minded parties and groups, is far from taking shape. The reason: lack of understanding among the parties and groups. For this, the parties are carrying out programmes on their own for the timebeing, according to sources.Jatiya Oikya Prokriya (National Unity Process), the move for forging greater national unity, announced a five-point charter of demands at a citizens' rally on September 22. But it could not form its planned liaison committee due to differences over the presence of the Jamaat-e-Islami in the fold of BNP-led 20-party alliance, said the sources.

Many leaders observed that the Jamaat, a major partner of the BNP, has emerged as an obstacle to its move to forge greater unity with other political parties. Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) president Prof. AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury has asked other parties not to share the stage with the BNP if it does not sever its relations with the Jamaat, which opposed the country's independence from Pakistan in 1971.

BDP leader Mahi B Chowdhury, at a press conference, made it clear that the BNP must cut its ties with the Jamaat before forging unity with them. The left-leaning eight-party alliance is also against any unity process if the Jamaat is directly or indirectly involved. Besides, the political parties concerned are yet to reach a consensus as to who would lead the united movement under the banner of National Unity Process.

The leaders piloting the unity agreed that there are different opinions and attitudes among the political parties, but they are hopeful about forging greater nayional unity at a suitable time. The political parties and groups have already raised similar demands for holding the next general election under a neutral government. They would come nearer to each other through talks, they said. They indicated that greater national unity is likely to be forged before announcement of the poll schedule.

In the absence of a common programme, the BNP is going to hold rallies at the district level today and hand over memorandum to deputy commissioners. The party will organise rallies at the city level tomorrow and submit memorandums to divisional commissioners to highlight their demands, which include release of chairperson Khaleda Zia and dissolution of Parliament before announcement of the poll schedule.

The BNP, from its Suhrawardy Udyan public meeting on September 30, placed a seven-point charter of demands in line with the demands made by the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya. The BNP did not invite leaders of its allies or like-minded parties to its public meeting.  Jatiya Oikya Prokriya is also going to hold a human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, to press its demand for holding the next parliamentary polls under a neutral government. This time, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya will not invite leaders of like-minded parties, though it placed its five-point demands in the presence of top leaders of the BNP, Gano Forum, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Nagorik Oikya and some individuals.

Asked about the reason, member secretary of the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Mostafa Amin, said their unity is not with any party, rather the unity would be among people. He also said the next course of political action of the unity process would be announced at Sunday’s human chain. Convenor of Nagorik Oikya, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, is hopeful about forging of greater national unity through continuing negotiations among the parties.

He admitted that there were problems of attitude over the unity and said these are being removed through talks. It will take some time to make a formal announcement of greater national unity, as the convenor of the unity process is now aboard and the BNP wanted to sit together after its September 30 public meeting, he said.

Regarding the Jamaat, Manna said there is no debate on the Jamaat, as the unity would be with the BNP not with the 20-party alliance. On formation of the liaison committee, he said it would be formed when they would meet together. Replying to a question, Manna said they were not given permission to hold their rally in Mymensingh on September 30. Now they are waiting for holding another rally in Sylhet on October 5, but are yet to get permission.

Dr Kamal Hossain has initiated the national unity process and the BNP will be a great part of it, as the party leaders think that the unity under the leadership of Dr Hossain would play a great role in changing the political scenario of the country.

BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said negotiations on national unity are going on and it is likely to be announced any time. “Since the parties are organising similar programmes and raising similar set of demands, forging of national unity is in its final stages,” he added. He said there is more optimism about the unity than apprehension. “When the struggle is in the field, then getting united is just a matter of time,” he added.

 

Stumbling blocks on path to natl unity

Greater national unity, comprising the BNP and like-minded parties and groups, is far from taking shape. The reason: lack of understanding among the parties and groups. For this, the parties are carrying out programmes on their own for the timebeing, according to sources.Jatiya Oikya Prokriya (National Unity Process), the move for forging greater national unity, announced a five-point charter of demands at a citizens rally on September 22. But it could not form its planned liaison committee due to differences over the presence of the Jamaat-e-Islami in the fold of BNP-led 20-party alliance, said the sources. Many leaders observed that the Jamaat, a major partner of the BNP, has emerged as an obstacle to its move to forge greater unity with other political parties. Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) president Prof. AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury has asked other parties not to share the stage with the BNP if it does not sever its relations with the Jamaat, which opposed the countrys independence from Pakistan in 1971. BDP leader Mahi B Chowdhury, at a press conference, made it clear that the BNP must cut its ties with the Jamaat before forging unity with them. The left-leaning eight-party alliance is also against any unity process if the Jamaat is directly or indirectly involved. Besides, the political parties concerned are yet to reach a consensus as to who would lead the united movement under the banner of National Unity Process. The leaders piloting the unity agreed that there are different opinions and attitudes among the political parties, but they are hopeful about forging greater nayional unity at a suitable time. The political parties and groups have already raised similar demands for holding the next general election under a neutral government. They would come nearer to each other through talks, they said. They indicated that greater national unity is likely to be forged before announcement of the poll schedule. In the absence of a common programme, the BNP is going to hold rallies at the district level today and hand over memorandum to deputy commissioners. The party will organise rallies at the city level tomorrow and submit memorandums to divisional commissioners to highlight their demands, which include release of chairperson Khaleda Zia and dissolution of Parliament before announcement of the poll schedule. The BNP, from its Suhrawardy Udyan public meeting on September 30, placed a seven-point charter of demands in line with the demands made by the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya. The BNP did not invite leaders of its allies or like-minded parties to its public meeting. Jatiya Oikya Prokriya is also going to hold a human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, to press its demand for holding the next parliamentary polls under a neutral government. This time, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya will not invite leaders of like-minded parties, though it placed its five-point demands in the presence of top leaders of the BNP, Gano Forum, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Nagorik Oikya and some individuals. Asked about the reason, member secretary of the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Mostafa Amin, said their unity is not with any party, rather the unity would be among people. He also said the next course of political action of the unity process would be announced at Sundays human chain. Convenor of Nagorik Oikya, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, is hopeful about forging of greater national unity through continuing negotiations among the parties. He admitted that there were problems of attitude over the unity and said these are being removed through talks. It will take some time to make a formal announcement of greater national unity, as the convenor of the unity process is now aboard and the BNP wanted to sit together after its September 30 public meeting, he said. Regarding the Jamaat, Manna said there is no debate on the Jamaat, as the unity would be with the BNP not with the 20-party alliance. On formation of the liaison committee, he said it would be formed when they would meet together. Replying to a question, Manna said they were not given permission to hold their rally in Mymensingh on September 30. Now they are waiting for holding another rally in Sylhet on October 5, but are yet to get permission. Dr Kamal Hossain has initiated the national unity process and the BNP will be a great part of it, as the party leaders think that the unity under the leadership of Dr Hossain would play a great role in changing the political scenario of the country. BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said negotiations on national unity are going on and it is likely to be announced any time. Since the parties are organising similar programmes and raising similar set of demands, forging of national unity is in its final stages, he added. He said there is more optimism about the unity than apprehension. When the struggle is in the field, then getting united is just a matter of time, he added.