Gono Odhikar Parishad has submitted a 12-point demand to the interim government, including the immediate publication of a political roadmap.
Dr Rashed Khan, the general secretary of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, addressed the media after a dialogue with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his residence, Jamuna on Saturday.
One of the key demands raised by Rashed was the arrest of those responsible for the recent massacre, noting that the country's law and order situation remains unstable. "We do not see any initiative to bring Sheikh Hasina back from India."
He expressed dissatisfaction with the government's progress over the past two months, saying, that despite the qualifications of those in the advisory council, the state of governance has not improved, and law and order continue to deteriorate.
Among the other demands, the Gono Odhikar Parishad called for the establishment of a bicameral parliament and a reduction of the parliamentary term to four years.
Here are the key demands presented by the Gono Odhikar Parishad:
- Publish the interim government’s work plan and roadmap.
- As constitutional and state reforms have become a fundamental idea and essential issue of this time, take necessary initiatives for reforming the state and bringing to justice the fallen dictator and his accomplices involved in genocide.
- Expand the advisory council by involving competent, diligent, and experienced individuals through discussions to increase political party and public engagement with the government’s work.
- Take action against the mafia and money launderers who grew rich through corruption and plundering during Sheikh Hasina’s fascist rule, and take effective measures to recover the money laundered out of the country over the past 15 years.
- Remove party-affiliated and corrupt individuals appointed based on party considerations in government departments over the last 15 years, take legal action, and establish a clear recruitment policy based on merit and competence by forming a recruitment commission to ensure all appointments are made competitively in government and semi-government jobs.
- Identify and take action against those who have rehabilitated the Awami League in the police and administration under the guise of reshuffling DCs and SPs.
- Form a new education commission to draft a work-oriented and research-based education system, giving priority to the demands of the times.
- Reorganize the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and form a strong anti-corruption body with appropriate individuals.
- Explore new labor markets in Europe and other countries, including restoring the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) benefit with the US, and sending skilled workers abroad through the government-to-government (G2G) process.
- Ensure all kinds of public services within a short time frame through a citizen charter.
- Establish a bicameral parliament and make the term of parliament four years.
- Provide embassy services where Bangladesh does not have embassies and ensure voting rights for expatriates in the upcoming elections.
