Gono Forum for national unity govt

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The Gono Forum leaders yesterday proposed a review of the constitution and post-election national unity government to ensure a non-partisan commitment to good governance as they joined the ongoing pre-poll dialogue.

They also proposed a four-point set of reforms including removal of black money, violence, militancy and partisan state mechanisms to ensure that the next elections are free, fair and credible.

Meanwhile, besides the ongoing talks with political parties, the government will hold a parallel dialogue with civil society groups starting with the business leaders today and regional dialogues at divisional headquarters.

“We should make a pledge to make a post-election national unity government to ensure good governance and make democracy effective,” said Gono Forum head Dr Kamal Hossain at a joint press briefing with five advisers at the Chief Adviser’s Office.

“Democracy cannot stop at elections and all political parties, headed by the winner of the elections, will have to make a pledge to unify around a national consensus on key issues,” he said.

Dr Kamal cited South African legend Nelson Mandela’s post-apartheid olive branch to his former white oppressors when he offered a number of apartheid-era leaders positions in his cabinet.

He also proposed a “constitutional review commission” to strengthen checks and balance mechanisms, significant increase in parliamentary posts of women through direct elections, amending Article 70 and greater activities by the Public Accounts Committee.

He asked the government to speed up preparations for the elections.

“It needs to be emphasised that to create an environment of confidence and security, the emergency state must be progressively relaxed and withdrawn completely well before the polls.”

Commerce Adviser Zillur Rahman agreed with the proposals, saying they will look into those.

He remained optimistic about the chances of the dialogue’s success, saying democratic forces came together in 1990 to solve the nation’s problems through dialogues.

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