The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain called for backing pro-people traditional democracy of Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Huq, Mawlana Bhashani, Suhrawrdi instead of new trends of promise breaking anti-people politics.

He also urged the people to become vocal by breaking silence and mount pressure on parties to free those from the influence of money and muscle power. The Gono Forum leader also criticized the role of two major parties in the past for breaking pre-election promises and said that they came to power by utilizing money and muscle power and wanted to cling to power forever by utilizing the two things.

These parties should go for massive reforms now to fulfil people's aspirations, which have hanged a lot in two decades due to consciousness. If the parties cannot live up to people's aspirations, a new generation of leaders will come up and they will be thrown into the dustbin of history, he said.

The day of politics for power is gone. People are very much conscious. The people understand everything and want relief from the present impasse, which lies with political parties. Some corner trying to destroy free fair election process he said. Dr Kamal was addressing a gathering at Shahid Abdur Rob Serniabat Auditorium of Barisal District Bar Association on Saturday organised by district unit of Gono Forum to hold dialogue on 'National unity to meet national challenges'.

The programme was attended by more than four hundred people using microphone outside the hall room violating restrictions of indoor politics permitted by the military controlled care taker government and no vigilance of law enforcing agencies were seen during this program. Dr. Kamal addressing as chief guest of the programme urged all political parties to be united to realize a credible general election from the caretaker government by December and said that those often broke promises with the people after election and do not want free, fair democratic election, only they expressing their doubt and hesitation, fear and apprehension against possibilities of holding election.

The people want an election free from terrorism and influence of black money and muscle power. Political parties will have to read people's mind and do accordingly to fulfill their hopes and aspirations, he said. Dr Kamal told, 'We have a glorious history of movements like independence war and the Language Movement. If we are united, then attainment of any national goal is also possible".

The nation is passing through a critical period and all political parties will have to take prudent decisions now. If they do any mistake, the nation will suffer and political leaders will be responsible for this, he said.

Over 400 party leaders and activists of different socio-political-cultural-professional-non-government organizations attended the program presided over by Advocate Hiron Kumar Das Mithu, district president of Gano Forum.

Among others the meeting was addressed by, party's central vice president Pankaj Bhattacharya, acting secretary general Subrato Chowdhury, organizing secretary Mustafa Mohsin Montu, agricultural secretary Abdus Sabur and international related secretary Parimol Chandra, women rights activists Rabeya Begum, TIB activists Tulu Rani Karmakar, Journalist Abul Kalam Azad, NGO activist Engineer Rafikul Islam, teachers association leader Das Gupta Ashish Kumar. Mentionable Dr. Kamal after attending a same program at Patuakhali on Friday came Barisal of Saturday and left for Dhaka night, said party sources.