Consensus must to restore stability

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday reiterated his call for national consensus to restore peace, favourable educational and business atmosphere, and people's basic rights.

He also stressed that discounting people's opinions in governance was like neglecting the constitution.

Addressing a discussion on the 31st death anniversary of Gen MAG Osmani, he said Osmani not only did lead the Liberation War but contributed to the making of the constitution.

Bangabir Osmani Memorial Council organised it at the capital's Osmani Memorial Hall.

Senior Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta highlighted the importance of discussions in democracy but said talks could not happen when threats came through violence.

Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali said stable democracy needed a strong opposition party.

Meanwhile, 18 eminent personalities including Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, journalist Kamal Lohani, and theatre artist Mamunur Rashid yesterday issued a signed statement, urging the BNP-led alliance to immediately withdraw the blockade and hartal, which are destroying the economy and education, and claiming innocent lives.

Separately, Bangladesh National Alliance (BNA) Chairman Nazmul Huda yesterday said the rigid stances taken by Awami League and BNP had rendered every effort for peace futile.

“Pressing for dialogues will bear no fruit,” he told BNA's national convention at the Institute of Engineers in the capital. “The only way to end this impasse," the former BNP leader said, "is to ensure a method of holding free and fair elections, which will be the sole means to transfer power.”