Sylhet, Oct 24 – Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, is going to hold its public rally at Sylhet city on Wednesday to mobilise public support in favour of the alliance’s 7-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party administration. It is the first political programme of the new alliance of four parties–BNP, Gano Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) and Nagorik Oaky– since its formation on October 13.
Local BNP and Oikyafront leaders said they have taken all-out preparations to stage a big showdown through the rally to be started around 2 pm at the city’s Registry Field.
Dr Kamal will address the rally as the chief guest while BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the main speaker with Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury in the chair.
Before the start of the rally, the senior leaders of the Oikyafront will visit the Shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R), Shah Paran (R) and the grave of General MAG Osmani.
Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, Oikya Prokriya convener Mostafa Amin, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury arrived in the city by air in the evening.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, JSD president ASM Abdur Rob and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna are scheduled to arrive here on Wednesday morning.
Talking to UNB, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they will start their alliance’s first political programme from the sacred land of Hazrat Shahjalal (R), Shah Paran (R) in Sylhet on Wednesday.
“We’ll drum up public support in favour of our seven-point demand for restoration of democracy. We hope several lakh democracy-loving people will participate in our rally,” he said.
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said they will hold the rally to push for their demands for the installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of parliament, reconstitution the Election Commission, release of all political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.
“We together with people won’t allow the government this time to hold an ordinary election like January-5 one of 2014” he added.
BNP vice chairmen Barkatullah Bulu, Mohammad Shahjahan, Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya leader Sultan Mohammad Mansur in coordination with local leaders are completing all the preparations to stage the rally.
Sylhet district BNP president Abul Kaher Shamim said they have started making the stage of the rally from Monday afternoon. “We’ve almost completed our preparations for the rally.”
He said people from the city and its adjoining districts are very keen to participate in the programme. “We expect a huge gathering of people in our programme.”
However, Sylhet BNP general secretary Ali Ahmed alleged police conducted raids on many houses of their party leaders and activists on Monday night to create panic among people.
He alleged that law enforcers also obstructed their party men in different areas from carrying out campaigns for the rally.
Contacted, Sylhet Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Sohel Reza said they conducted the raids to arrest the accused persons in different cases, not to intimidate anyone.
After the Sylhet Rally, Oikyafront is scheduled to hold another such programme at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram city on October 27. – UNB
