Jatiya Oikya Front will be contesting the upcoming national election slated for Dec 30 with BNP’s electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of paddy’, said Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna.

He made the announcement on Thursday (Nov 15) after a steering committee meeting of the front, held at the coalition chief Dr Kamal Hossain’s Motijheel office.

“All the parties of our coalition will contest the upcoming polls with a common electoral symbol which we have decided to be 'sheaf of paddy,' said Manna, a key leader of the front.

On deferring polls, Manna said, “When we met with the government, everyone including the prime minister said that they have no say over the election commission. We told the commission that foreign observers won’t be able to come as the whole world celebrates New Year.”
On Nov 12, the Election Commission deferred the voting day in the general election by a week to Dec 30. The deadline for filing nominations was extended to Nov 28. The move came four days after the CEC announced the schedule for polls in a televised address to the nation setting Dec 23 as election day.
However, opposition political parties and alliances including Jatiya Oikya Front, have been calling for deferring the polls schedule demanding a level playing field before the voting day is picked.
Manna said, “The ruling party is saying that voting won’t be deferred by even an hour, which sounds like a threat. I condemn such comments.”

He also condemned the attack of BNP activist on Wednesday and said, “The ruling party blocked roads for four days which even resulted in two deaths. Police did nothing. But, the election commission gave statements to keep the roads clean on the day ahead of BNP’s scheduled nomination forms distribution.”
We think the commission should have been careful about this, added Manna.
He also said that they think the ruling party is behind the vandalising of police vehicles.