Opposition alliance Jatiya Oilya Front plans to contest the polls despite several BNP and ‘paddy sheaf’ candidates boycotting the votes well before 12 pm since voting started at 8 pm on Sunday (Dec 30).
The alliance’s convener and Ganoforum chief Dr Kamal Hossain will brief the media on Sunday afternoon regarding the matter, a coalition leader confirmed.
Earlier in the day, Jamaat-e-Islam leader and ‘paddy sheaf’ candidate for Cumilla-11, Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Mia Golam Parwar in Khulna-5, BNP’s candidate Shama Obaid in Faridpur-2, and independent candidate for Dhaka-1 Salma Islam boycotted the polls citing that the election was rigged.
“I have boycotted the polls in my constituency,” Shama Obaid, BNP’s Organizing Secretary told Bangla Tribune, adding that she herself did not cast her vote.
“Awami League activists took over more than 100 polling stations and stole the votes. The agents have been ousted and there are clashes everywhere. What’s the point of voting?” she added.
However, Oikya Front is adamant about contesting until voting ends at 4 pm.
We will not boycott the polls and have already decided to fight till the end, the coalition’s steering committee member Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury told Bangla Tribune.
He added that the other candidates might have boycotted due to the circumstances in their own constituencies.
Meanwhile, several Oikya Front and BNP leader said that they can boycott the polls without a decision from the central committee.