Accusing the BNP-led coalition government of failing to run the country, about 7,000 participants approved a 12-point declaration from the convention at Paltan Maidan in Dhaka under Oikya Procheshta, a socio-political organisation.

The venue wore a different look with leaders of different political hues gathering on the same podium and a dramatic appearance and address by former president Badruddoza Chowdhury, who also sent a written message to convention organisers before in fear of attacks.

Another former president and head of the first caretaker government, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, sent a written message, the first ever in his life for any political convention.

No leaders of main opposition Awami League joined the programme saying it was an organisational programme of Dr Kamal Hossain, convenor of the new platform that formed a 32-member committee.

"Bangladesh does not belong to any person, group, family or political party. It belongs to 14 crore countrymen and we will save Bangladesh from sick politics," said Dr Kamal after the declaration.

"We went on people-to-people contact for one and a half years before we formed the declaration. We hope we will able to rid the administration of family influence and corruption and make parliament active," said Dr Kamal, who presided over the meeting.

He threatened that people would try the ruling coalition in "people's court" if it did not apologise for "misdeeds" in six months.

"How many governments are running the country? People are puzzled," the eminent lawyer said on a note of exclamation and called for closedown of Hawa Bhaban, dubbed as the political base of ruling BNP.

He called on people to voice against black money and commu-nalism he blamed on the present political situation.

Referring to attacks on political leaders and workers, the ex-foreign minister called on police not to comply with unconstitutional orders that the government gives for its own interest.

Stressing a moral unity among people, journalist Ataus Samad asked the participants to launch a move to fight criminalisation of politics.

"Once clinching power, parties politicise all sectors thinking it was their last chance," said Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, trustee member of Trans-parency International, Bangladesh, on hopes the new unity would establish people's power in the state.

"Our constitution was formed to ensure the rule of law, but the country is run by a wilful few and parliament has become inactive," Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said.

Expressing solidarity with the Oikya Procheshta move, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma said all governments disregarded the four main principles of the constitution.

"Twenty-five lakh indigenous people have fallen victims to extreme nationalism and fundamentalism and religious minorities are being tortured," he said.

"The poor are becoming poorer ... the government is losing the country's control to other quarters because of open-market economy and globalisation."

President of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League Kader Siddiqui said, "We don't want to see our flag in the cars of Razakars anymore."

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu said, "The state machinery has proved a failure and armed fundamentalists are attacking pro-liberation forces."

Demanding immediate resignation of the government, Inu demanded retooling of the caretaker government and the Election Commission.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said, "We don't want the four-party coalition anymore as it paved the way for fundamentalists to run extremist activities."

Khalequzzaman Bhuiyan, convenor of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, called for an alternative people-oriented trend of politics bringing an end to the two-party rule.

"People's fate will not change if this trend of politics continues," said former lawmaker Abul Hasan Chowdhury.

"We cannot expect good governance of a government based on criminalised politics," said Kazi Faruq Ahmed, secretary general of Oikyabaddha Andolon.

Former Saarc secretary general Abul Hasan said the tenures of last three governments did not reflect people's hope although general elections were held under an independent caretaker government.

SHAHABUDDIN'S MESSAGE
Oikya Procheshta leader Jahirul Islam read out the written message of Shahabuddin Ahmed.

"I am glad to know that Oikya Procheshta has arranged a national convention to take the national politics to a better state and create a democratic and developing Bangladesh.

"I hope this initiative will have far-reaching consequences in making parliament effective, turning it into the centre of all state activities and ensuring accountability of the government."

BADRUDDOZA'S APPEARANCE
In his concluding speech, Dr Kamal said former president Badruddoza sent a message as he failed to appear there in person.

But Badruddoza appeared on stage in a few minutes, sending a wave of applause into the crowd.

As Dr Kamal handed him the microphone, the alternative political stream chief burst into a scathing attack on the government for not allowing him to launch his platform from a rally at Muktangan.

He also criticised the government for not allowing him Paltan Maidan for the same purpose.

"But, I'm here today," said the physician-turned-politician, challenging the government to counter his platform in merit- and intellect-based politics, giving up arms and muscle power.

"Take to merit-based politics; I will show you in six months...if I fail, I'll quit politics," he told the cheering crowd who stood in rapt attention until the end of Badruddoza's speech.

As Dr Kamal, Badruddoza and Kader Siddiqui held their hands high in a sign of unity, the crowd burst into applause and shouted slogans.

DECLARATION
The key points of the demand include reforms to the electoral process and local government, separation of the judiciary, crime and corruption control, check on price spiral of essentials, end to minority persecution, adherence to human rights, educational development, 100 parliamentary seats for women with direct elections and reinstatement of workers of state-owned closed-down mills and factories.

OTHER POINTS
Expel extortionists, criminals and godfathers from political parties to free politics of violence and black money.

Disclose the sources of income of political leaders and their family members by strengthening the Election Commission.

Allow the police administration under the ombudsman to work neutrally.

Create an independent human-rights commission.

Use national resources for development and stop the move to export gas.

Form a commission to resolve the problems of indigenous people and ethnic minorities.

Implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord.

Give full autonomy to Bangladesh Betar and Television.

Institute upazila parishad.

COMMITTEE
The members of the new committee include Advocate Zahirul Islam, Pankaj Bhattacharya, Saifuddin Manik, Kader Siddiqui, Dr Quazi Faruque Ahmed, Ajay Roy, Samsuddoha, Ranesh Maitro, Barrister Rabeya Bhuiyan, Dr Abdul Hakim, Mafizul Islam Kamal, Fazlur Rahman, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Engineer Abul Kashem, AOM Shafiqullah, Abdur Rouf, CM Morshed, Jamil Chowdhury, Mozammel Haq, Chowdhury Khurshid Alam, Kazi Raisul Haq Masuk, Advocate SM Altaf Hossain, Advocate Parimal Guha, Habibullah Neamul Karim, Advocate Shamsul Alam Dudu, Advocate Suraiya Begum, Advocate Sagir Anwar, Mostak Ahmed, Mokabbir Khan, Advocate Sultana Kamal and Rafika Halim Chowdhury.