Leaders from different political parties on Friday accused both the National Consensus Commission and the interim government of deepening divisions among political parties instead of fostering unity.
They said the NCC might have closed the door to necessary reforms through the recommendations it submitted to the chief adviser on the implementation roadmap of the July Charter.
They made the remarks on the opening day of Ganosamhati Andolan’s fifth national council held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka.
Family members of July martyrs inaugurated the council by flying pigeons, symbolising peace. Alongside the national anthem, Ganosamhati chief coordinator Zonayed Saki hoisted the national flag, while executive coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel raised the party flag.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the NCC and the interim government had created a moment of crisis.
“We will continue our support to the interim government. They, however, will have to address the crisis and take necessary steps to solve it soon. Nobody else will do it for them,” he said.
Ganosamhati Andolan’s Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki said the implementation of the July Charter would be completed through elections.
“There will be no reforms without an elected parliament. The mass uprising was a collective effort. If anyone wishes to establish authority over the state, it will not be acceptable to the people,” he said.
He added that the political transition from a fascist regime to a democratic period would fail if any conflict undermined national unity.
Saying that the interim government should not show partiality, he added, “The general secretary of a party said that the February election may be delayed. Don’t create situations that might cause political instability.”
Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel said there was no scope to move away from the original consensus among political parties.
“The foundation of the July Charter was national consensus. The people will not tolerate it if anyone tries to go beyond it,” he said.
Revolutionary Workers Party President Saiful Haque said the NCC had broken the trust of political parties.
“They have embarrassed us by the recommendations they submitted to the chief adviser and exposed their own foolishness through it,” he added.
Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the NCC was acting against agreed principles.
“Deeds cannot be changed after being signed, yet NCC is doing so forcibly. The interim government has created rifts in the name of reforms. When those in power deceive citizens like this, questions arise about their real agenda,” he said.
The event was also addressed by National Citizen Party Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib, Amar Bangladesh Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju, Women’s Political Rights Forum organiser Mahrukh Mohiuddin, Bhashani Janashakti Party chairman Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu and Bangladesh National Party chairman and 12-Party Alliance coordinator Syed Ehsanul Huda, among others.
