Opposition Alliance Jatiya Oikya Front walked out of a meeting with the chief election commissioner (CEC) citing ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

The alliance’s leaders walked out one and a half hour after the meeting began around 12 pm Tuesday (Dec 25) at the Election Commission’s Agargaon offices.

“The government and the EC are trying to foil the upcoming polls,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told the media after storming out of the meeting.

Expressing disappointment at the CEC’s behaviour, Fakhrul said, “The way our party activists are being attacked all over the country, BNP is doubtful over the prospects of fair polls.”

Earlier around 12 pm Tuesday (Dec 25), a delegation of the Jatiya Oikya Front led by its chief Dr Kamal Hossain went to meet the election commissioners to brief them about reports of attacks and harassments on the alliance’s leaders and activists. 

Clearly disappointed at the response of the commission, the major opposition alliance leaders stormed out of the meeting midway. 

According to them, the CEC expressed little sympathy for the injured and victims.

Other than Kamal and Alamgir, BNP’s policymaking National Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Abbas, Dr Moyen Khan, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Ganasasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury talked to the media after emerging from the meeting.

The CEC, election commissioners Mahmub Taluker and Rafiqul Islam and commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed were present in the meeting.

Fakhrul said, “Dr Moyeen Khan is here but his PS is in hospital ICU. Our leader Fazlul Haque Milon in Gazipur was put behind bars after the polls schedule was announced. His wife, who has been campaigning, is now being treated in ICU after she was attacked."

"Mirza Abbas is here but he and his wife Afroza Abbas has been attacked several times,” he added. 

“What’s the motive behind these attacks?” Fakhrul asked, adding, “The Election Commission and the government has turned the upcoming polls into a farce.”

Dr Zafrullah said, “Barrister Moudud’s car was blocked while leaving his own residence claiming the measure was due to security.”

“What sort of security forbids me from going out of my own place?” he asked.

“When we asked the CEC to stop the police being used against candidates’ he lashed out,” said Zafrullah, adding, “It has become clear that CEC is taking orders from upstairs.”

Zafrullah also said, “They want us to call it quits. They want to force us into quitting the race, which is not happening and we are denouncing such activities of the commission in  the strongest possible terms.”

When asked about the Front’s future steps, BNP leader Fakhrul said, “The people will decide. We will discuss the matter in the alliance’s meeting.”

“But we won’t let them score in open fields,” he added.