DHAKA: A leading Bangladeshi educationist has mooted a four-point formula to break the political stalemate casting a shadow on the legitimacy of Sunday elections to the national parliament.
 
Harun-Or-Rashid, Vice Chancellor of National University says the current crisis can be resolved by unquestioningly executing the verdict of war crimes tribunal, clamping a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, convincing all political parties to participate in elections and running the country in the true spirit of the Liberation War.
 
Mr Rashid made the remarks at a seminar organised by Bangladesh Economic Association in a city hotel on Saturday.
 
The other speakers were Professor of Dhaka University Mezbah Kamal, writer Syed Shamsul Haque, Kazi Kholikuzzaman, Dr Forasuddin Ahmed and leading journalist Abed Khan.
 
Dr Zafar Iqbal said that the situation in Bangladesh will normalise if all political parties resolved to shun the Jamaat-e-Islami.
 
Former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank khondoker Ibrahim Khaled said: “Hasina-Khaleda dialogue will never bear fruit just like the Bangabandhu-Yahiya Dialogue of 1971 as the two sides are diametrically opposed and have nothing in common."  
 
University Grant Commission (UGC) chairman Professor AK Azad Chowdhury categorically said violence is being unleashed not to postpone the 10th parliamentary elections but to obstruct the trial and punishment of war criminals.
 
Professor of Dhaka University Mezbah Kamal accused a section of intellectuals for demanding implementation of Minus-2 formula.
 
“They are saying it`s a fight between two women. But in fact it`s a clash of ideologies,” he observed.

*Attempt still underway for Minus-2
 
BDST: 1826 HRS, JAN 04, 2014
Edited by: Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Newsroom Editor