Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today called upon supporters and activists to wage a movement to meet the demands of Jatiya Oikyafront.
Speaking at the rally in Rajshahi today, he trashed the election schedule and said it will not be accepted unless political prisoners including Khaleda Zia are released.
“Release our all political prisoners and create a level playing field otherwise upcoming general election will not be fruitful,” Fakhrul said at the rally.
Jatiya Oikyafront has been formed in line with the directive of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to restore democracy in the country and to ensure people rights to vote freely, he said.
Oikyafront leaders held meeting with the prime minister and placed its seven-point demand. “But all our efforts have gone in vain,” he said.
“We said the dialogue will not be successful if Khaleda Zia is not freed from jail. Now, we will have to meet our demands by forging a collective movement,” the BNP leader said.
‘EC WANTS TO SNATCH VOTING RIGHTS’
Dr Kamal Hossain, senior leader of the Jatiya Oikyafront, addressed the rally via telephone and could not attend in person due to his sickness.
He said, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the next general election in a hurry to snatch people’s voting rights.
‘EC WANTS OIKYAFRONT OUT OF EQUATION’
Addressing the rally, Nagoric Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna blasted the Election Commission for hurriedly announcing the schedule for the 11th parliamentary election.
“It has been done only to keep the Jatiya Oikyafront away from the election,” Manna said.
He also criticized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she did not meet any demands placed by the Oikyafront before him during two-phase electoral talk.
What are the demands of Oikyafront?
The Oikyafront’s seven-point demand includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of parliament, reconstitution 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.
How was Oikyafront launched?
On October 13, BNP together with Dr Kama Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, JSD and Nagorik Oikya launched the Jatiy Oikyafront to press for their seven-point demand.
Later, Krishak Sramik Janata League, led by Kader Siddiqui, joined the alliance.
