Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Saturday met leaders of Gono Forum, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Andaleeve) as part of ongoing dialogue with political parties. This was the second such dialogue with political parties at State Guest House Jamuna. The first round was held with BNP, Jamaat, CPB and some other parties on October 5.
The key purpose of the dialogue was to inform the political parties about the progress in reforms and to seek their suggestions. After meeting Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, Gonoforum said the situation will be the same as before if the election is held without completing reforms. Gonoforum called upon the chief Adviser to hold the next national election very soon after reconstituting the Election Commission and completing the reforms.
Led by Gono Forum's emeritus president Dr Kamal Hossain, a nine-member delegation took part in the dialogue. "We want the election very soon. But we didn't give any specific date," Mostafa Mohsin Montu, chairman of the coordinating team of Gonoforum, told reporters after emerging from the meeting.
Montu said, "Before the election, we act as Ram, and we become Ravan after the election." He said a new election commission will have to be formed to hold the next election in a free, fair and neutral manner. "For this, a search committee or whatever necessary should be appointed," Montu added.
At the meeting Liberal Democratic Party President Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed demanded that the interim go.