Despite the differences of opinion, the BNP, Jukta Front and Nagarik Oikya have finally agreed to frame the draft of a common seven-point chater of demands and 11-point visions to launch a combined movement to press for holding the next general election under a neutral administration. Top leaders of the parties involved in the national unity process finalised the draft of common demands and visions at a meeting at Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Rab’s residence at Uttara yesterday.

BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and barrister Moudud Ahmed, JSD president ASM Rab, vice-president Tania Rab, general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Gano Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh leader Mahi B Chowdhury, Gano Sastha Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and former student leader Sultana Mohammed Mansur, among others, were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Awami League (AL) brought out a procession from in front of the residence of ASM Rab while the meeting was in progress. Briefing reporters, Nagarik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna has said the draft of a common set of demands and visions had been finalised at the meeting, which began at 3pm. “After their finalisation, the demands and visions will be announced tomorrow (Saturday),” he said after the meeting.

Replying to a question, Bikalpa Dhara leader Mahi B Chowdhury told journalists that they would come to know about their decision regarding the Jamaat-e-Islami, a major ally of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance, on Saturday. Earlier, he had demanded that the BNP leave out the Jamaat to forge greater national unity with them.

BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said there was nothing new to reveal. “Manna has already told you about today's decisions. You’ve to wait till Saturday to know the rest,” he added.

Earlier, parties in the process of national unity decided to finalise a framework under which the country would be run and common agitation programmes to force the Awami League-led government to hold the 11th parliamentary polls under a neutral government. The decision was made at a joint meeting of the Bangladesh Nationalist party, Jukta Front and Jatiya Oikya Prakriya leaders at Jatiya Samajtanrik Dal faction president ASM Abdur Rob’s Uttara house on October 08.

Earlier on October 07, they agreed on five demands, including formation of polls-time non-party government and release of the jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. However, the process of fixing the programmes of movement was moving slowly as parties in Jukta Front sought to finalise the framework under which the state would be run if the parties in the process of national unity are voted to power. The issue was placed at the first formal meeting of the top leaders of the BNP, Jukta Front and Jatiya Oikya Prakriya at BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain’s Gulshan house in Dhaka on October 06, according to sources.