‘Non-communal state not possible unless progressive forces unite’
Leaders of different political parties yesterday said the dream of establishing a non-communal state will not be fulfilled until the country’s progressive forces are united.
Speaking at a memorial meeting for eminent leftist leader Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, they said collaborative contributions of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prof Muzaffar Ahmed is a good example of such unity, that helped the country gain independence.
Moni Singh-Farhad Memorial Trust arranged the meeting at its auditorium at Purana Paltan, in memory of the president of National Awami Party (pro-Moscow), who passed away on August 23, at the age of 97.
Speaking there, Pankaj Bhattacharjee, president of Oikya NAP, said Prof Muzaffar was one of the key figures who had supported Bangabandhu during the country’s Liberation War.
“If you [progressive party leaders] want to show due respect to Prof Muzaffar, you should not patronise BNP-Jamaat; rather you should be united to defeat communal forces in the country,” he said.
Blaming lack of unity among different progressive parties behind “dirty” political culture in the country, he alleged that 82 percent of incumbent parliament members are businessmen. “Politics is no more in the hands of politicians, so we all should come forward to change this culture,” he urged all.
Afzal Hossain, information and research affairs secretary to the Awami League Central Working Committee, said the contributions of Prof Muzaffar to achieving the country’s independence is unforgettable.
Terming Muzaffar a teacher of politics, he urged all to follow his ideology, considering the existing political context, and support Prime Minster Shiekh Hasina to build a non-communal state.
In his speech, Liberation War Museum Trustee Dr. Sarwar Ali claimed that Prof Muzaffar helped Bangabandhu when many leftist leaders were allegedly playing a silent role to serve the interests of the United States of America and China.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Shah Alam alleged that there is no democracy in the country. “We all should be united to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War, by establishing democratic values,” he said.
Among others, NAP International Affairs Secretary Paritosh Debnath, Mohila Sramik League General Secretary Begum Shamsunnahar and Workers Party of Bangladesh politburo member Anisur Rahman Mallik spoke at the discussion.
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