Internal dispute in Gonoforum has been settled: Dr Kamal Hossain

Saying that internal dispute in Gonoforum has been settled, the party's President Dr Kamal Hossain today said there is no problem in the party at present.

"There is no misunderstanding and division in Gonoforum. Leaders and workers of Gonoforum will conduct the party activities together," he said at a press conference at his residence in Dhaka.

Asked about the split of Gonoforum, Dr Kamal, one of the architects of the country's constitution, said nothing like that happened in the party. Even if (any problem) had happened, it's not remaining in the party at present. "There is no problem in the party."

Dr Kamal also said, "We are all remaining in the party and we will be in the party. There is nothing to be worried about."

He said top leaders of Gonoforum will sit in a meeting on January 9, next year where date of the party's next council will be fixed.

In response to a question on whether new leadership will come in the party, Dr Kamal said that is the hope. "Every year, I say that I don't want to stay in the post anymore. This time we have to find new leadership," he said.

Asked about the opposition to construction of Bangabandhu's sculpture, he said it was abuse of religion, nothing more than that. This is being done to divide the nation, he added.

Several senior leaders of Gonoforum including Reza Kibria, Subrata Chowdhury, Professor Abu Sayeed were absent in the press conference.

Asked about their absence, Dr Kamal said: "Professor Abu Sayeed, Subrata Chowdhury, Reza Kibria have been remaining in isolation. That is why they could not attend the meeting."

In the briefing, Mostafa Mohsin Montu said, the misunderstanding that had existed among them was like a dispute among brothers in a family. They have reconciled, he said.

"We have a guardian [Dr Kamal] and we have resolved our problems keeping him in front of us," he added.

Gonoforum MP Mokabbir Khan, the party's convening committee members -- SM Jaglul Haider Afrik, Shafiq Ullah, Mohsin Rashid, AR Jahangir, Mohiuddin Abdul Quader, Mostaq Ahmed, among others, were present at the briefing.

The last council of Gonoforum was held on April 26, 2019. Reza Kibria, who joined the party before the 2018 parliamentary elections, was made the party's general secretary that surprised many.

Conflict started in Gonoforum following that council, causing expulsion and counter expulsion of the party's leaders.

A meeting was held on September 26 under the leadership of Mostafa Mohsin Montu, former general secretary of Gonoforum. They announced to hold the party's council on December 26.

They also expelled Reza Kibria, general secretary of the convening committee of Gonoforum, Mohsin Rashid, Shafiq Ullah and Mostaq Ahmed for their activities against the unity and interests of the organization.

On October 17, Reza Kibria announced to expel Montu, Subrata and six others from the party. They also announced to hold council on December 12.

Kamal Hossain on December 13 in a statement said that the expulsion and counter expulsions that took place in the party so far will be considered invalid from now on.

He also said that there will be a national council to solve the ongoing problems.