A 10-member delegation of Ganosamhati Andolon, led by its Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, participated in the discussions

Bangladesh steps into the New Year under the shadow of persistent economic turmoil and political crisis over the January 7 national election.

The next general election will have to be free, fair and at the same time participatory and competitive so that people in the country and elsewhere find it credible, eminent citizens told a discussion yesterday.

To use previous incidents of human rights violations to condone those of the present is hypocrisy and a macabre mockery of the past and present victims.