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Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain on Friday urged the newspaper editors to keep close eyes on government activities to hold the next general election in a free and fair manner.
He made the call at a views-exchange meeting with the editors of print media at a city hotel, reports UNB.
The two-hour views-exchange meeting, arranged to take the editors' opinions about holding the next general election, began around 3:30pm at Hotel Lakeshore and ended around 5:30pm.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Kamal Hossain said the editors put forward their opinions on various matters which are important for the Jatiya Oikyafront.
"They placed their suggestions on how we can hold a free, fair and neutral election," he said.
About the reason behind sitting with the editors, he said they have the experiences of many past incidents from which they should keep themselves away.
"We've arranged the views-exchange meeting so that we can remain active and people can cast their votes freely without any fear and so a free and fair election is held in its true sense. This is very important for us," Dr Kamal said.
"We've also pointed out some issues about government's negative attitude and we hope that the editors and the media will keep a careful watch in this regard," he added.
Earlier, talking to reporters emerging from the meeting midway, Amader Natun Shomoy Editor Naimul Islam Khan said the Jatiya Oikyafront leaders could not clear who will be the prime minister if it wins the next general election.
He said bdnews24.com editor-in-chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi raised the question at the meeting.
In reply, Dr Kamal Hossain said the majority parties will sit and take the decision who will be the prime minister after discussion if they come out victorious in the election, Naimul Islam said.
However, Toufique Imrose Khalidi, while talking to reporters, also half-way through, said he did not get any clear answer to his question from the Oikyafront leaders.
Khalidi said he told the Oikyafront leaders that Britain, India and other democratic countries make it clear before the election who will be the prime minister and they should also do it.
Naimul Islam said the meeting began with the deliberations of Dr Kamal Hossain and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
In their speeches, they wanted to know what should be done to hold the 11thparliamentary elections in a free and fair manner, he said.
Mentioning that verses from the religious books of all regions are read and there are discussions on the country's independence and Bangabandhu at their rallies, Amader Natun Shomoy Editor asked the Oikyafront leaders whether it is the outcome of their collective thought.
However, they did not give any instant answer to the question and said they will do it later, he said.
They also did not reply to his question as to how they will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2021 if they win or lose the next election, Naimul Islam said, adding that they said they would give the reply later.
Apart from Dr Kamal Hossain and Fakhrul, BNP senior leadersKhandaker MosharrafHossain, Moudud Ahmed, JSD president Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna attended the programme.
Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, News Today editor Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Dhaka Tribune editor Zafar Sobhan, Holiday editor Kamaluddin Ahmed, weekly Saptahik editor Golam Mortaza and representatives of some other editors were, among others, present.