Nagarik Samaj appeals for nat’l dialogue

Nagarik Samaj, a new forum of prominent citizens, on Monday made fervent appeals to immediately convene a national dialogue to resolve the crisis facing the nation. The appeals were conveyed to president Abdul Hamid, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in separate letters signed by immediate past chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on behalf of Nagarik Samaj. ‘We earnestly appeal to you to take a positive initiative to hold the dialogue.

The letters said that the Nagarik Samaj took the move as citizens representing various professions at a meeting held on its initiative Saturday took a unanimous resolution favouring the national dialogue for resolving the crisis facing Bangladesh. The letters were dispatched hours after the prime minister said at Monday’s weekly cabinet meeting   that the civil society people suddenly became vocal about resolving the political crisis through dialogue but they were silent about blockade related violence. To present Khaleda’s letter, lawyer Prince Chanchal Mahmud went to her Gulshan office at around 6.30 PM. BNP chairperson’s press wing official Sairul Kabir Khan received the letter from him, Sairul confirmed to New Age.

When contacted PM’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said that he was unaware about any such letter. Two other messengers delivered the letters,  at Bangabhaban and the  prime minister’s office, said Nagarik Samaj sources. The letters appealed for finding a permanent mechanism to end the unhealthy cycle of political violence centering elections, they said. Rehman Sobhan, Kamal Hossain, Akbar Ali Khan, Shahdeen Malik and several more prominent citizens are associated with Nagarik Samaj.

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