Jatiya Oikyafront chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday urged the Election Commission and election officials, including returning officers and assistant returning officers, to ensure the environment so that people can exercise their franchise in Sunday’s election.
Addressing a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), he also called upon voters to go to polling stations early in the morning to ensure their voting right and defeat ‘wrongdoers’.“I urge the respected voters, please go to polling stations in the morning and cast your votes. Don’t get scared. If you go (to voting centres), miscreants will flee… they can’t overpower people’s strength,” Dr Kamal said.
Stating that returning officers, assistant returning officers and others involved in the election activities are respected persons, he said, “If you discharge your duties properly, it’ll increase your dignity. The success of your duties will be determined by the smile on the faces of voters.”Dr Kamal further said, “If you snatch anyone’s right, remember that someone else is taking away the right of your father, mother, wife and children. If you do this, people, history and the law won’t forgive you.”
He urged people to go to polling centres across the country in the morning to cast their votes. “I urge the respected voters, please go to polling stations in the morning and cast your votes. Don’t get scared. If you go (to voting centres), miscreants will flee… they can’t overpower people’s strength.”The Oikyafront chief also urged the young voters to go to polling stations in time to exercise their franchise. “Keep in mind you’re finished if you fear, you’re Bangladesh if you resist.”
Claiming that people have much fear and apprehensions in their mind over the election, Dr Kamal said this needs to be removed. “Now there should have been a festivity, but there’re much fear and apprehension in public mind,” he said.The 11th national election of the country is set to be held from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday without any break amid tight security.
Dr Kamal, also the president of Gano Forum, called upon the government officials not to deprive people, the country’s owners, of the joy of vote. “You don’t belong to any party as you’re people’s service providers. Don’t carry out any illegal order.”
He urged the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies, including BGB, police, Rab, Ansar, VDP and Coast Guard, to play a glorious role as they did in the past. “Your role in maintaining peace is acclaimed all over the world and it has created many scopes for you across the globe. Remain alert so that it can’t be harmed under any circumstance.”“Let’s cast our votes. Your vote is very valuable as you’re the owners of the country,” the Gano Forum chief added.
No election boycott, no rift in Oikyafront
Asked whether they may boycott the election halfway through, Dr Kamal said, “My clear answer is we won’t stay aside from the polls in any way.”About their expectation over the election results, he said they firmly believe people will cast their votes in favour of them as they want a change.
“We’ll surely win if there’s no anomaly in the election.”Replying to a question, the Oikyafront chief said there is no question of any division in their alliance. “Rather, our unity has got consolidated further.”
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Kahn, Gano Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury were, among others, present.After the press conference, Dr Kamal talked to some foreign jurists and local representatives of different foreign media, and briefed them about the election situation and their alliance’s position.
source: UNB
