No credible polls possible under present govt: Dr Kamal

Staff Reporter :
It is not possible to hold an impartial election under the present government, so installation of a neutral non-partisan election-time government is needed through discussions with political parties to overcome the ongoing crisis, and reconstitution of the Election Commission.

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Tuesday said this and urged the government to immediately initiate dialogues with all political parties to ensure a free, fair and participatory national poll in the coming months.

He also apprehended that the Awami League-led government won’t able to hold free and fair parliamentary polls.

The Gonoforum chief condemned the harassment Nobel-laureate economist Dr Muhammad Yunus by filing cases against him.

“Our apprehension is that the election will not be free and fair.

The people are extremely anxious about the next polls as the 2014 one-sided election was held without voters and the 2018 election held at night.

So, the people should unite and try to have free and fair elections,” he said while addressing a discussion organised by Gonoforum on the occasion of its 30th founding anniversary at the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday.

He said, “We have been running this organization for the last 30 years.

People’s unity is needed today.

Today, my only request is that we all have to work together for national unity in the greater interest of the country.

Together we can achieve our goals.

We want free, fair and impartial elections.”

Proposing six proposals, Dr Kamal Hossain said, “To ensure a fair, impartial, and participatory upcoming parliamentary election, I urge the government to immediately sit down with all political parties for talks.”

He placed a six-point demand, including the installation of a neutral non-partisan election-time government through discussions with political parties to overcome the ongoing crisis, and reconstitution of the Election Commission.

The proposals also demanded for ensuring of all parties’ freedom to hold rallies and meetings, a level playing field for all parties, withdrawal of “false and harassing” cases against opposition leaders and activists, and making arrangements for the appointment of domestic and foreign observers.

Besides, it should be ensured the freedom of press, electronic media, social media and meetings of all political parties, he said in his six-point demand.

Conveying greetings on the founding anniversary, Dr Kamal said, “Let’s work together for national unity so that we can achieve our goal unitedly.”

The party’s general secretary Mizanur Rahman read out the three-page written statement of Kamal Hossain.