'Govt encourages militancy to perpetuate its misrule'

Speaking at a conference in the capital, he said people are now united to change the government to get rid of its sick politics.

The second national conference of Sammilita Samajik Andolon was held at Tajul auditorium.

Dr Kamal said the greed for power and illegal money has made the government blind to interest of people who are suffering owing to unabated corruption of the government.

"Militants and fanatics were allowed to grab the country for practising religion-based politics," he said, adding that those who divide the society on the basis of religion are the real enemy of the country.

The government wants to remain in power with the help of fundamentalists who are killing journalists, lawyers, teachers and other progressive forces, he added.

Emphasising the unity of all progressive forces for safeguarding the nation, Dr Kamal said honest and patriotic people should be nominated in the next general election.

Prof Anisuzzaman of Dhaka University said the preparation of faulty voter list and the activities of chief election commissioner have cast doubt in the minds of people about a fair election in the country.

Dr Mejbah Kamal, also of Dhaka University, said people have lost their faith in political leaders for their misdeeds.

Presided over by Sammilita Samajik Andolon President Ajoy Roy,

the conference was also addressed by Workers' Party General Secretary Bimal Biswas, Andolon General Secretary Dr Hayat Masud, former Director General of Bangla Academy Syed Anwar Hossain, former Director of National Museum Shamsuzzaman Khan and Dr Mosharraf Hossain.

Later, a new committee of the Andolon was elected with Ajoy Roy and Advocate Tobarak Hossain as president and general secretary respectively.