10 retired defence officers join Gono Forum

Ten retired defence officers yesterday formally joined Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gono Forum, expressing solidarity with the party's political ideology and mission undertaken ahead of the 11th parliamentary election scheduled for December 30.

They joined the Gono Forum, a component of the Jatiya Oikyafront, at a programme at Dr Kamal Hossain's chamber in Motijheel around 3:30pm, said a press release of the party.

The defence officers are: freedom fighter Lt Col (retd) Khandakar Faridul Akbar, Lt Col (retd) Sheikh Akram Ali, Lt Col (retd) Mohammad Shahidullah, Lt Col (retd) AFM Nuruddin, Maj (retd) Masudul Hasan, Maj (retd) Md Imran, Maj (retd) Md Badrul Alam Siddiqui, Squadron Leader (retd) Md Forkan Alam Khan, Squadron Leader (retd) MD Habib Ullah and Squadron Leader (retd) MD Mahmud.

However, Kamal Hossain, president of Gono Forum and a key leader of the Oikyafront, an alliance of BNP and several other opposition parties, was not present at the time.

Gono Forum executive presidents Mofizul Islam Kamal and Subrata Chowdhury welcomed them with bouquets of flowers.

Describing December 30 as a “challenging day for the nation”, Subrata Chowdhury said, “We are going to participate in the national election together with an aim to bring a positive change in the country.”

“I hope that the people who joined Gono Forum would engage in the battle of ballot to make our mission a success,” he added.

Faridul Akbar said, “We decided that we have to work during the country's crisis moment and hence we joined Gono Forum.   

“The country will emerge as a prosperous one and democracy will be restored under the leadership of Dr Kamal Hossain,” he said.