'Cancel registration of Jamaat'
Speakers at a discussion yesterday demanded that the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party be cancelled immediately so that its members cannot stand in the parliamentary elections.
They also called on all to come forward to vote out Jamaat in the elections.
Freedom fighters, writers, professionals and rights activists took part in the discussion organised by the Forum for Secular Bangladesh at the auditorium of Women's Voluntary Association in the city to mark the 37th Constitution Day.
They also demanded that elections must be held on schedule.
Justice Ghulam Mohammad Rabbani said the constitution of 1972 has to be restored in order to bring the war criminals to book.
Shahriar Kabir, acting president of the Forum, said Jamaat does not want to take part in the election in December as this is the month of our victory. So, it is trying to defer the election date.
"Our main goal is to restore the constitution of 1972 and the people have an important role to play. They must not vote for the war criminals," said Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah.
"We have to take necessary steps so that the war criminals cannot take part in the polls," he added.
Women's rights activist Ayesha Khanam called on the political parties not to form any alliance with them.
Lt Col (retd) Shawkat Ali, chairman of Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad, said elections must be held in December at any cost.
"If the election is delayed, the Election Commission and the government will have to take the responsibility," he said.
Prof Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, chairman of Central Command Council, Golam Mohammad Idu, president of Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, and Shaymoli Nasreen Chowdhury, vice-president of the Forum, also spoke.
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