Oath taking of Oikyafront MPs
Mukabbir presence sparks chaos at Ganaforum council
STAFF REPORTER, Dhaka
The presence of Mukabbir Khan at the special national council of Ganaforum, a component of the Jatiya Oikyafront, yesterday brewed discontent among the party rank and file. It may be mentioned that Mukabbir joined Parliamant by defying the party directive. Some leaders, including Ganaforum training affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam Pathik, left the council in protest against Mukabbirs presence. Party general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu was absent from the council held at Mohanagar Nattya Mancha in the city. But Ganaforum president Dr Kamal Hossain in the chair.
Mukabbir, a presidium member of the party, was elected MP from the Sylhet-2 constituency on the Ganaforum ticket in the December-30 election. Later, he took oath as an MP on April 2, going against the party decision to not join Jatiya Sangsad. On April 20, Ganaforum, in its central committee meeting, decided to send a show-cause notice to Mukabbir for violating its constitution and indulging in anti-party activities.
Some party leaders were stunned at Mukabbirs presence
at the council. He took his seat on the first row of the stage, just three seats after Kamal Hossain.
Rafiqul Islam Pathik told reporters that Kamal Hossain had been doing dual politics over Mukabbirs issue. I immediately left the council in protest against Mukabbirs presence at the council, he said.
Ganaforum organising secretary Mostak Ahmed, however, said though the party served a show-cause notice to Mukabbir, no action had been taken against him so far. Mukabbir has not even responded to the notice, he added.
Ganaforum central executive committee member Maj. (retd) Afsary Ameen Ahmed said Mukbbir could join the council as a party presidium member. A vested quarter in the party has taken a stand against Mokabbir out of jealousy, he claimed.
When contacted, Mostafa Mohsin Montu said he was absent from the council due to his sickness. He described the presence of Mukabbir Khan at the council as unacceptable and immoral.
Kamal Hossain, together with party senior leaders, inaugurated the council by hoisting the national and Ganaforum flags around 11am. Nearly 1,000 party delegates from across the country joined the event. The last council of Ganaforum was held on December 10, 2011.
Speaking at the council, Kamal Hossain urged the people to play the role of a watchdog as the owner of the country to protect their constitutional rights and make the government accountable. He said the Constitution guaranteed peoples rights and they should be organised to guard those rights.
The Ganaforum leader said no one, including the President and the Prime Minister, was above the Constitution.
We must register our protest if anything is done beyond the Constitution. We must make the government accountable. Otherwise, well lose our ownership of the country, he added.
He also said the police could help ensure a democratic and constitutional rule in the country by playing its proper role.
The Ganaforum chief also said the people would have to force the government to run the country in keeping with the Constitution. He urged people not to get frustrated as their victory was certain in the end.
