No problems within party now: Dr Kamal

Gonoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday claimed that the party has settled its internal disputes and there is no problems within the party at the moment.

"There is no misunderstanding and division in Gonoforum. Leaders and workers of Gonoforum will conduct party activities together," he told a press conference at his residence in the capital.

Asked about the split of Gonoforum, Dr Kamal, one of the architects of the country's constitution, said nothing like that happened in the party.

He said top leaders of Gonoforum will sit in a meeting on January 9 where the date of the party's next council will be decided.

"At present there is an uneasy political situation in the country. We will work taking people with us against bribery and corruption," he added.

Mostafa Mohsin Montu, a member of the convening committee of Gonoforum, read out a written statement on behalf of Dr Kamal.

In response to a question whether the party will see new leadership, Dr Kamal said, "Every year, I say that I don't want to stay in the post anymore. This time we have to find out new leadership."

Asked about the opposition of construction of Bangabandhu's sculpture, he said it was the abuse of religion, nothing more than that. This is being done to divide the nation.

Several senior leaders of Gonoforum including Reza Kibria, Subrata Chowdhury, and Prof Abu Sayeed were absent at the press conference.

Asked about their absence, Dr Kamal said: 'Prof Abu Sayeed, Subrata Chowdhury, Reza Kibria are in isolation. That is why they could not attend the meeting."

At the briefing, Mostafa Mohsin Montu said: The misunderstanding that had existed among them was like a quarrel among brothers in a family."

"We have a guardian [Dr Kamal] and we have resolved our problems keeping him in front of us," he added.

 Gonoforum MP Mokabbir Khan, the party's convening committee members SM Jaglul Haider Afrik, Shafiq Ullah, Mohsin Rashid, AR Jahangir, Mohiuddin Abdul Quader, Mostaq Ahmed, among others, were present at the briefing.

The last council of Gonoforum was held on April 26, 2019. Reza Kibria, who joined the party before the 2018 parliamentary elections, was made the party's general secretary, a move that surprised many.

Conflict started in Gonoforum following that council, causing expulsion and and counter expulsion of party leaders.

A meeting was held on September 26 under the leadership of Mostafa Mohsin Montu, former general secretary of Gonoforum. They announced to hold the party's council on December 26.

They also expelled Reza Kibria, general secretary of the convening committee of Gonoforum; Mohsin Rashid, Shafiq Ullah and Mostaq Ahmed, for their activities against the unity and interests of the organisation.

On October 17, Reza Kibria announced to expel Montu, Subrata and six others from the party. They also announced to hold council on December 12.

Amid this situation, Dr Kamal Hossain on December 13 in a statement said the expulsion and counter expulsions that took place in the party so far will be considered invalid from now on.

He also said that there will be a national council to solve the ongoing problems.