Oikyafront mass hearing: Dec-30 election was a farce: Dr. Kamal

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Noman Mosharef :
Attending a public hearing as the head of a seven-member jury panel on Friday, Dr Kamal Hossain Claimed that the government staged a ‘farce’ on December 30 in the name of election.
 “All are to be united to take the country’s ownership back and ensure the voting rights of the people,” said Dr Kamal, who is the Convener of Oikyafront.
“This canot be called an election. This was a farce. On December 30 the government staged a farce in the name of election, deprived the country’s people of their rights, violated the Constitution and defamed democracy,” he said.
About 50 candidates contesting in the parliament
 election brought evidences of massive irregularities taking place on December 30. They alleged also that ballot papers were dropped in the ballot boxes on the previous night of December 30.
Dr. Kamal also demanded unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, saying the demand is justified and logical.
They said it in the mass hearing programme organised by Jatiya Oikyafront in the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium around 10:00 am and continued till 5:45 pm with a one-hour break from 1pm.
The programme began with offering prayers for the victims of Chawkbazar inferno. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir read out a mourning proposal.
The Oikyafront leaders and activists paid homage to the fire victims by observing a one-minute silence.
A munajat was also offered seeking salvation of the victims’ departed souls and praying for the early recovery of those who suffered injuries.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said a ‘so-called farcical’ election was held on December 30 in the country.
He accused that the government of ruling the country as per its whim in absence of a democratic atmosphere. “The government has now no accountability to people.”
On the occasion, Lalmonirhut-2 candidate Asadul Habib Dulu said, mass arrest scared his constituency. The PM could not keep her words that none would be arrested during election.
Oikyafront candidate from Hobiganj-1 and Gonoforum Presidium Member Dr Reza Kibria said, plain cloth law enforcers were picked up his leaders and activists. They could not stay at home before one and half month before election.
Oikyafront candidate from Narayangonj-5 and Nagorik Oikya leader S M Akram said that he arranged a meeting but there was no sound system because the Awami League and administration obstacles him to hire sound system.
Other members of the jury panel are Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, ex-judge AKM Anisur Rahman Khan, Prof Nurul Amin Bepari, Prof Dilara Chowdhury, Prof Asif Nazrul and Advocate Mohsin Rashid.
 Senior leaders of BNP, Gono Forum, JSD, Nagorik Oikya and Krishak Sramik Janata League, Oikyafront’s candidates of 11th parliamentary polls and activists and supporters of the alliance joined the programme.
 The public hearing was originally rescheduled to be held on February 24. However, Oikyafront rescheduled it for February 22 as they failed to manage any venue in the capital to hold the programme on February 24.
 All the candidates of the Oikyafront and the left democratic alliance were invited to join the public hearing.
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