Dhaka, Dec 27 – Calling upon all to stage a vote revolution, Jatiya Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday said December 30 will be another victory day of the nation after December 16 as Oikyafront will win the election.
“We won in the past; we’ll achieve victory this time, too. December 30 will be another victory day after December 16,” he said at a press conference at Oikya Front’s Purana Paltan office after a meeting of senior leaders of the alliance.
Dr Kamal said people want a change in the government through peaceful voting. “I believe you (people) will stage a vote revolution on December 30. We all will create the revolution, and will achieve victory as we did on December 16 (1971).”
He said Oikya Front’s win will not be the victory of any particular party of the alliance as it will be the victory of all sections of people.
“There’s nothing to fear. [We] fought against autocrats throughout the life; we won, not the autocrats. There would have been no 71 and no Bangladesh had the autocrats won,” Dr Kamal observed.
Mentioning that the people of Bangladesh never bowed down to arms, money and power, he hoped that people will not be defeated this time either. “I hope you’ll be there in the field with this spirit.”
The Oikya Front chief urged people to vote for “Sheaf of Paddy’ for their welfare and independence. “You’ll be able to enjoy the freedom if you cast your vote for the Sheaf of Paddy as it’s a symbol of people and unity, not that of any particular party.”
He said people will turn out to be successful if they vote for the Sheaf of Paddy. “You’ll surely win if you get united and cast your vote for this symbol. I’m sensing the victory now. As per the information I’m receiving from across the country, people have started believing that they’ve already turned out to be victorious, even two days before the balloting.”
Kamal said Oikya Front candidates are getting an overwhelming response from voters while people have now become fearless to cast their votes.
He urged the voters to go to polling stations early in the morning in groups and stay there after casting their ballots. “Agents must be present during the vote counting. You’ll leave the voting centres after having the result sheets with the signature (of presiding officers). We must win the polls.”
The Oikyafront chief said 16 crore people are going to exercise their right to franchise against those who are arrogant and consider themselves as the owner of the country. “I would like to unequivocally say that they (AL) are not the country’s owner as 16 it belongs to 16 crore people.”
He said people will turn out to be successful if they vote for the Sheaf of Paddy. “You’ll surely win if you get united and cast your vote for this symbol. I’m sensing the victory now. As per the information I’m receiving from across the country, people have started believing that they’ve already turned out to be victorious, even two days before the balloting.”
Kamal, also a Gano Forum president, said their alliance is against politicisation. “We’re trying to go to power to free the country from politicisation. I urge all government officials not to be the victims of politicisation.”
Earlier, senior leaders of the alliance held a meeting at its office with Dr Kamal in the chair.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddiqui, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Gano Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and Nagorik Oikya leader Shahidullah Kaiser were, among others, present.
At the meeting, they discussed the prevailing election atmosphere in the country and worked out their some strategies to ensure the presence of voters on December 30. – UNB
