Staff Reporter :
Jatiya Oikya Front on Wednesday strongly demanded next national polls under a neutral government dissolving the Parliament.
The front leaders demanded also release of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from jail and reconstitution of the Election Commission.
Jatiya Oikya Front leaders read their seven points from its grand rally at Registry Maidan in Sylhet. The demands included fair and inclusive polls.
It is the first public meeting of the Oikya Front after forming an alliance with BNP, Gano Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Nagorik Oikya on October 13.
Oikya Front Convener Dr. Kamal Hossain addressed the grand rally as the Chief Guest.
The veteran leader said the government must be convinced to accept the people’s demand to hold the next general election under a neutral government.
He also demanded Khaleda Zia’s release immidiate from jail.
“The people will again become the country’s owners. The victory of Jatiya Oikya Front is certain through a united movement with the greater participation of the people of the country,” Dr. Kamal said.
He said, “We will build the country for the people’s welfare and justice through a united movement. I can assure you that our victory is certain under Oikya Front leadership.”
Dr. Kamal said, “The government is vigorously campaigning about development. But the reality is that a handful of persons have been benefited. The development of a few people is not the real development. We want real development of the country’s people.”
He urged all to get united for the real development of the country.
“Whenever the people of the country get united, they had been successful in the past. So, get united thinking about our victory. We will surely be the owner of state power, and we will surge the country forward with our united efforts so that we can restore all of our snatched rights,” the Front convener said.
Leaders and activists of the oikya front started to gather at the venue from 12 pm chanting different slogans. Thousands leaders and activists of the BNP were holding placards, banners and portraits of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. They chanted various slogans demanding Khaleda Zia’s release from jail. Leaders alleged that around 200 leaders and activists of the front has been arrested from the rally.
The rally started with recitation from Al Quran and the Gita around 2pm.
Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury presided over the rally. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressed the rally as the chief speaker.
Mirza Fakhrul called upon the government to release Begum Khaleda Zia from the jail before the announcement of the next polls schedule.
He also urged toreconstitute the Election Commission and shun the attempt to use the Electronic Voting Machine in the next election. “We will not allow digital rigging in the election. We will go for a peaceful movement jointly to meet our seven-point demands including holding of the next general election under a nonpartisan government,” Mirza Fakhurl said.
BNP Standing Committee Members Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, JSD President ASM Abdur Rab, its General Secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, and Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gono Saystho Kendro Founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and former DUCSU VP Sultan Mohammad Mansur, among others, also addressed the mamoth rally.
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, one of the key persons in forming the Jatiya Oikya front, called upon the countrymen to raise their voices demanding to hold of the next general election under a non-partisan administration.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Rab said, today our beloved country is under a group of misrulers. We will defeat them in the race of democracy and fly the victory flag.
He said, this is ‘do or die’ battle. This battle is to regain our voting rights. Certainly we will be winners.
Khandokar Mosharref Hossain said, we will free our leader Khaleda Zia. Moudud Ahmed said, there is no 2nd option then holidnig discussion. We will convince the fascist government to sit with us through our movement .
He said the government will be forced to go for a negotiation with opposition parties in the face of a tough anti-government movement Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, it is our oath day. We are promising nobody will be allowed to continue in power through walk over.
He also called for dissolve on of Parliament and ensuring the level playing field for all political parties.
The Oikya front’s seven-point demands includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of Parliament, reconstitution the Election Commission, release of all political prisoners including Begum Khaleda Zia, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) for holding the next polls in free fair and acceptable manner.
