Speakers, including academics and politicians, called for national unity among all political parties and other stakeholders for bringing democratic reforms in the country in keeping with the spirit of the War of Independence and July uprising.
They said that a national consensus among the political parties and other stakeholders was imperative for democratic reforms, ensuring the participation of all, including national and religious minorities.
The view was stressed at a discussion on national unity organised by Unity for Bangladesh at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium at Dhaka University.
Addressing the event, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson鈥檚 adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said that democracy was about different opinions and different paths, while the basis of unity here would be Bangladesh.
鈥榃e have to move forward based on the unity. After the mass uprising, no one from Awami League or its allies has expressed regret yet. Therefore, we have to consider who will remain in this unity and who will not.鈥�
He also said that the students who led the mass uprising should not have been part of the interim government.
抖阴精品 editor Nurul Kabir said that there was concern that the unity created through the student-led mass uprising was breaking down.
鈥業 think there is nothing to worry about with this,鈥� he observed.
鈥楨very political party or force operates according to its own goals and ideals. As a result, everyone鈥檚 goals may be different. It is, therefore, natural to have differences among political parties,鈥� he said.
The editor also said that there were talks about a new political settlement regarding building a democratic state and establishing equality, human dignity, and social justice.
The demands, however, were not new; these demands were also in the pledges of the proclamation of independence, but the demands were not met even after 53 years, Nurul Kabir said.
Jahangirnagar University teacher Snigdha Rezwana said that the national consensus would not be possible until the rights of the minorities and marginalised people were ensured.
Noting the importance of everyone鈥檚 participation in the reform process, Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that a strong state must be built through democracy.