Staff Reporter :
The newly formed political alliance Jatiya Oikyafront will contest in the coming general election with the symbol of BNP.
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna disclosed it to the waiting journalists on Thursday after a steering committee meeting of the front held at the Oikyafront top leader Dr Kamal Hossain’s Motijheel office.
“We have decided that all the parties who formed the Jatiya Oikyafront would contest in the election with a common election symbol and this common symbol is the Sheaf of Paddy,” he said.
Responding to a query about seat sharing, Manna said, “No dicision has been taken yet. We have, however, started discussion about it.”
On deferring polls, Manna said, “When we met the AL in the dialogue, everyone including the Prime Minister said that they had no say over the election commission. We told the commission that foreign observers won’t be able to attend due to Christmas and New Year celebration.”
He added, “The international observers were expected, but now, they cannot. It is not a good sign to hold the polls without foreign election observers.”
“We have logic for asking the commission to defer election.”
About Wednesday’s clash between police and BNP activists at Naya Paltan, he said the incident took place due to government provocations. He condemned the attack on the BNP activists and said, “The ruling party blocked roads for four days, which even resulted in two deaths. Police did nothing. But astonishing the Election Commission issued statements to keep the roads free on the day ahead of BNP’s scheduled nomination forms distribution.”
Manna also said that Awami League leader HT Imam threatened the Election Commission with his comment that the election must not be delayed even for an hour.
He alleged that the government wanted Oikyafront not to join the election, but they will go to the polls braving all the odds and obstacles.
The Oikyafront leader said also they will continue to press for delaying the election.
On October 13, BNP together with Dr Kamal Hossain led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, JSD and Nagorik Oikya launched the Jatiya Oikyafront to press home their seven-point demand.
Later, Krishak Sramik Janata League led by Kader Siddiqui, joined the alliance The Oikyafront’s seven-point demand includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of Parliament, reconstitution of the Election Commission, release of all the political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.
Election Commission revised polls schedule on Monday, November 12, deferring the 11th general election by a week to December 30.
The newly formed political alliance Jatiya Oikyafront will contest in the coming general election with the symbol of BNP.
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna disclosed it to the waiting journalists on Thursday after a steering committee meeting of the front held at the Oikyafront top leader Dr Kamal Hossain’s Motijheel office.
“We have decided that all the parties who formed the Jatiya Oikyafront would contest in the election with a common election symbol and this common symbol is the Sheaf of Paddy,” he said.
Responding to a query about seat sharing, Manna said, “No dicision has been taken yet. We have, however, started discussion about it.”
On deferring polls, Manna said, “When we met the AL in the dialogue, everyone including the Prime Minister said that they had no say over the election commission. We told the commission that foreign observers won’t be able to attend due to Christmas and New Year celebration.”
He added, “The international observers were expected, but now, they cannot. It is not a good sign to hold the polls without foreign election observers.”
“We have logic for asking the commission to defer election.”
About Wednesday’s clash between police and BNP activists at Naya Paltan, he said the incident took place due to government provocations. He condemned the attack on the BNP activists and said, “The ruling party blocked roads for four days, which even resulted in two deaths. Police did nothing. But astonishing the Election Commission issued statements to keep the roads free on the day ahead of BNP’s scheduled nomination forms distribution.”
Manna also said that Awami League leader HT Imam threatened the Election Commission with his comment that the election must not be delayed even for an hour.
He alleged that the government wanted Oikyafront not to join the election, but they will go to the polls braving all the odds and obstacles.
The Oikyafront leader said also they will continue to press for delaying the election.
On October 13, BNP together with Dr Kamal Hossain led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, JSD and Nagorik Oikya launched the Jatiya Oikyafront to press home their seven-point demand.
Later, Krishak Sramik Janata League led by Kader Siddiqui, joined the alliance The Oikyafront’s seven-point demand includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of Parliament, reconstitution of the Election Commission, release of all the political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.
Election Commission revised polls schedule on Monday, November 12, deferring the 11th general election by a week to December 30.
