The BNP has asked the candidates in the 11th national election, who contested with its polls logo ‘paddy sheaf’, for a meeting in Dhaka scheduled for Thursday (Jan 3).
Sources at the party headquarters confirmed that they have been asked to join the meeting at the BNP chief’s Gulshan offices at 10am that day.
Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be presiding over the meeting, BNP Publicity Affairs Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee told Bangla Tribune.
“The votes were robbed the night before the election. The Jan 3 meeting will discuss on the next course of actions,” said Anne, who ran on the BNP’s tricket from Lakhsmipur-1.
According to people familiar with the matter, candidates have been told to bring a report on the overall situation of voting in their constituencies, including details like casualties, names of arrested local leaders and activists as well as proof of election rigging.
A total of 298 candidates, including those from BNP’s allies in the 20-party Alliance and Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front, contested the Dec 30 election with ‘paddy sheaf’ logo.
The BNP has won only five seats while Dr Kamal’s Gano Forum two.
Soon after the polls closed on Sunday (Dec 30), Oikya Front and the BNP rejected the election alleging large-scale rigging and called for a re-election.
After a meeting of the Oikya Front top brass on Monday (Dec 31), its leader Kamal Hossain said that they will submit a memorandum to the Election Commission demanding fresh polls, which party insiders said is likely to be handed over on Jan 3.