Maj Gen (retd) Ibrahim floats political party
Maj Gen (retd) Syed Mohammad Ibrahim yesterday launched a political party named Bangladesh Welfare Party, declaring himself as its chairman for three years, and urged people to join the party to bring a 'change in politics'.
The party's draft constitution vests in the chairman absolute power to control, supervise and coordinate all activities of the organisation and its national council, advisory council, central executive committee.
The national council of the new party will be held within 18 months to 'elect' party chairman.
But Ibrahim will continue in his post for three years, says the draft constitution prepared by the founder-chairman of the party, the latest in a series formed during the state of emergency.
Formation of the party was announced and its draft constitution released at a crowded press conference at a city hotel.
Meanwhile, the constitutions of BNP and Jatiya Party, formed by military rulers Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad, are now being criticised severely due to absolute power of party chief to control party activities without regard for intra-party democratic practices.
Ibrahim said, "The full committee of his party will be announced within four to five weeks. We will make preparations to contest the next parliamentary election."
He went on, ''We want politics of reconciliation, coordination and cooperation on such matters which have divided the people. We want politics of change. We have to move forward by introducing accountability and transparency in politics.”
Bangladesh Welfare Party is based on five principles -- nationalism, democracy, social justice, economic development and humanism. Everybody -- except war criminals, people who had opposed the Liberation War, and corrupt ones -- are welcome to the party, said Ibrahim, a veteran freedom fighter.
Responding to a query, he said his party would never compromise with war criminals and corrupt people.
The retired general portrayed a gloomy picture of country's present political situation saying it is hampering desired development of the country.
"The months of October, November and December of 2006 were very crucial in our national life … The nation was passing through a very difficult situation because of confrontational politics of the major parties," he said.
"To save the nation, the people and the armed forces had to take a joint decision. And they implemented the decision on the 11th of the first month of 2007… That is why I feel that 'one-eleven' has given us an opportunity to re-start life," Ibrahim observed.
Ibrahim, who was retired following the chaotic situation in the army in 1996, said many former military and civil high officials and freedom fighters have contacted him to join the new party.
"No secret accords have been singed with leaders of any political parties over joining his party," he said replying to questions.
Ibrahim pointed out that the new party has no intention of being rivals of major parties like Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party. “We want to be complementary to them. And we hope that the big parties would also consider us as complementary to them in building a prosperous Bangladesh," he asserted.
His party recognises Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman as national leaders for their outstanding contribution to the nation.
The new party chief introduced three persons who will be made office bearers of the party. Of them, Abul Kalam Azad will be political adviser to the party chairman, Sadek Ahmed Khan will look after Liberation War affairs and Mohammad Shah Alam will be in charge of financial matters.
Several hundred people including former military and civil officials and a few officials of diplomatic missions in Dhaka were present at the new party's launching ceremony.
"I came here just to observe the launching of a political party," Dan Biers, political officer of the US embassy in Dhaka, told this correspondent.
Mu Yongpeng, first secretary and chief of political section of the Chinese embassy in Dhaka, echoed his views.
Sheikh Asad, chief of Janata Party and Latif Majumder, chief of Krishak Sramik Party, were also present on the occasion. Talking to this correspondent, they said they came to welcome Ibrahim for his new venture.
In their short speeches, a number of businessmen and former civil and military officials hailed the launching of the new political party. They include Commodore (retd) Abdul Wahid Chowdhury Bir Uttam, Major (retd) Masud, Mainuddin Momen, deputy managing director of Abdul Momen Ltd, Shah Alam, director of Shah Fatehullah Textile Mills Ltd, M Masud, former additional secretary, Momtaz Begum Momi, managing partner of Prianka Car Zone Ltd, Zakir Hossain, chairman of Samriddha Bangladesh Andolon, M Badiuzzaman, chairman of Mirpur Unnayan Parishad and M Shajahan, former chairman of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.
NEW PARTIES
A number of new political parties were floated since imposition of the state of emergency on January 11, suspending the ninth parliamentary election scheduled for January 22.
Ferdaus Ahmad Quarishi floated Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) on July 21 despite the ban on all political activities. Munir Hossein floated an organisation titled 'Solidarity' in September. Tahmidul Islam and Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan floated Bangladesh Ganoshokti Party last month.
Jatiya Party leader Sheikh Shawkat Hossein Nilu formed 'National Peoples Party' in July. TM Saikhul Islam and Advocate Azharul Islam launched a party named 'Public Party' last month. Nirdaliya Jana Andolan, formed in 2004, started its operation afresh last month. Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman is convener and chief adviser of this party.
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