Bangladesh News

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said holding local government elections before national elections has neither legal nor constitutional bar.

He said, “The elections have to be held in normal situation [with the state of emergency withdrawn].” He hoped the government decides in this regard after discussions with political parties.

He was talking to reporters after a meeting between leaders of Gono Forum and Ganatantree Party at his Bailey Road home in the capital.

“The matter could be discussed in the dialogues between the government, Election Commission and political parties… there is no bar to it in the constitution,” Kamal, an eminent jurist, said when asked about the government’s plan to hold local government elections.

Urging all to unite for accommodating a corruption- and terrorism-free governing system in the country, he said their struggle is for a free and fair election so that people can elect honest people as their representatives.

“Our expectation is an effective parliament constituted through a fair election and I hope the government fulfils its commitment to hold a free and fair election by the end of this year,” he said.

Referring to the historic March 7, 1971, he stressed the importance of national unity to face national challenges saying the present mass awareness will take the people of the country to the desired elections.

He hoped the government makes a decision on the trial of war criminals soon as the Sector Commanders Forum has huge support across the country for the cause.

Ganatantree Party President Nurul Islam said politicians, the Election Commission and the government have to decide how the elections are held in the country. He said all bars to indoor politics must be withdrawn.

Making suggestion on keeping politics free from “those who trade on religion”, he said questions would be raised against our independence if war criminals were not brought to book.

Gono Forum leaders Pankaj Bhattacharya, Subrata Chowdhury and Mofizul Islam Kamal and Ganatantree Party leaders Bhupendra Bhowmik Dulan, Monir Ahmed and Enamul Hoque Mollah were present among others.