Two factions of Gonoforum set to be reunited

Two factions of Gonoforum are set to be reunited after four years; the party was founded by Dr Kamal Hossain in the 1990s.

"We’ll organise the national council of the ‘reunited Gonoforum‍‍` very soon," said Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary of a faction of Gonoforum, on Thursday.

He came up with the announcement at a joint declaration made during a discussion arranged at the National Press Club, marking the 31st founding anniversary of Gonoforum.

Gonoforum leaders Dr Kamal Hossain, Mostafa Mohsin Montu, SM Altaf Hossain, Subrata Chowdhury and Mizanur Rahman addressed the discussion.

Addressing the event as the chief guest, Gonoforum Founding President Dr Kamal Hossain said a new opportunity has been created for the establishment of democracy and justice in the country following the student-led mass movement. People of the country are dreaming of an independent and discrimination-free new Bangladesh, he said.

"We must be vigilant so that no evil force or conspiracy can create obstacles in building such a Bangladesh,” he said.

The Gonoforum chief said the achievement of the mass uprising must be taken forward.

“I hope the leaders and activists of Gonoforum will forget all differences and start a new journey by unitedly celebrating the founding anniversary," he said.

Gonforum was founded on August 29, 1993 under the leadership of Dr Kamal Hossain and Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, who had left Awami League and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) respectively.

Following the death of Saifuddin Ahmed Manik in 2008, Mostafa Mohsin Montu became the general secretary of Gonoforum.

In December, 2021, Gonoforum suffered a split as a group of its leaders formed a 157-member new committee of the party through a council, dropping its founder president Dr Kamal Hossain.

Party‍‍`s former general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and its ex-executive president Subrata Chowdury were made president and general secretary respectively of the faction.

Earlier on May 5, 2019, Dr Kamal made Reza Kibria general secretary of Gonoforum, dropping Mostafa Mohsin Montu. But Reza Kibria also resigned from the party in February 2021.

On October 27 last year, Dr Kamal Hossain was elected the emeritus president of Gonoforum in a special council. Mofizul Islam Khan and Mizanur Rahman Khan were made its president and general secretary.