Civil society again calls for dialogue, Wants immediate end to violence.

Newly formed citizens’ forum Worried Citizens on Friday reiterated its call for a national dialogue and putting an immediate end to the ongoing violence to create a congenial atmosphere for the dialogue. ‘Steps both for holding a national dialogue and putting an end to violence must be taken simultaneously,’ forum leader ATM Shamsul Huda, also former chief election commissioner, said at a press conference at the National Press Club. He said, ‘We are not taking any move for the dialogue, rather we are urging the political parties to create an environment for the dialogue putting an end to the ongoing violence across the country.’ Asked about their next plan, Shamsul Huda said that if needed they would extend their all-out cooperation to make the move a success. He urged the president and the government to take initiative for the dialogue.

On February 9, in separate letters signed by Shamsul Huda on behalf of the forum made the appeal to the president, Abdul Hamid, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, requesting them to take initiatives from their respective positions for holding a dialogue to resolve the ongoing political crisis. The appeals from the civic forum received widespread support, while ruling Awami League senior leaders including prime minister Sheikh Hasina on February 11 trashed the idea of sitting across the table with Khaleda. Asked about the recent criticism of ruling party leaders terming the civil society members ‘cancers of the society,’ Shamsul Huda said, ‘We welcome the ministers and the ruling party leaders for their criticism as they have taken us into account.’ Shamsul Huda said that he was still optimistic that the dialogue would take place. He also announced a 13-member committee after dropping the Gana Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain and Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna.

The committee included former caretaker government advisers M Hafizuddin, Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Akbar Ali Khan, CM Shafi Sami, Rasheda K Choudhury, Rokia Afzal, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, jurist Shahdeen Malik, former Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh executive director Ahsan H Mansur and Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar. The civil society leader also expressed concern about the death of over 90 people in blockade related violence and extrajudicial killings since beginning of the transport blockade on January 5 demanding fresh national elections under a non-party government.

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