The anti-government alliance Jatiya Oikya Front has pledged not to quit the 11th Parliamentary Election under any circumstances.
“Jatiya Oikya Front will take part in the polls under any circumstances and will launch a united movement to restore the people’s rights to vote,” alliance spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday (Nov 30).
Mirza Fakhrul, who is the BNP secretary general, spoke to the media after emerging from a meeting of Okiya Front’s Steering Committee at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan offices.
Referring to ministers’ and ruling party Awami League leaders’ inappropriate remarks on Dr Kamal Hossain, “It falls out of political etiquette... Dr Kamal is leading the country to restore its democracy in this crisis moment.”
The senior BNP leader calmed thousands of the party activists are behind bars saying, “People, who are vocal for Oikya Front, are facing torture.”
Mirza Fakhrul blamed the government for riding on Election Commission’s shoulders to introduce a one-party rule.
Voicing deep concern over the arrest of their party’s three candidates, Mirza Fakhrul said the EC is marching forward to implement a government’s blueprint instead of holding a fair and credible election.
“Our three candidates were arrested over the last two days. It has now become clear that the EC is not going to hold an acceptable and fair election. They’re implementing the government’s blueprint,” he said.
Demanding arrest, attack and lawsuit to put an end, Mirza Fakhrul said, “Or else, the government and the Election Commission (EC) will be held responsible if any unexpected political turmoil arises.
“Stop arresting party supporters in ‘fictitious cases’ and release the detained, he said.
Mirza Fakhrul also blamed the government for turning the judiciary into a tool to implement its agenda. “Especially, the lower court carries out more government orders. It must be stopped immediately.”
“The High Court also delivers some orders, which are never useful to the election,” he said.
The BNP leader s claimed the EC is yet to create a level playing field. “Arrest has continued since the announcement of polls schedule.”
On Jamaat-e-Islami’s contenders contesting on BNP’s electoral symbol ‘paddy sheaf’, he said, “No contender is from Jamaat here. All are BNP’s.”
“We’ve shared five constituencies with the tops leaders of (20-party) Alliance and (Jatiya) Oikya Front,” Mirza Fakhrul informed.