Dhaka, Dec 17 – Jatiya Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Monday said their alliance will remain there in the election race until the last, no matter what adversities it faces. Dr Kamal made the remark at a press briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban here after a two-and-half-hour meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda.
“If the government thinks we’ll boycott the election amid its ongoing tricks, that’s wrong. It won’t happen. Even if I die, the alliance won’t boycott the election. My body will be carried to the polling station, if necessary, to vote,” Dr Kamal said.
The Oikya Front chief further said, “The election must take place. If they think that ugly attacks will emotionally make us surrender and boycott the election, they are wrong.”
Dr Kamal said they will try their best so that their demands are granted by the Election Commission.
He, however, alleged that the commission is not fully exercising the power given to it.
Leaders of Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Dr Kamal, went to the Election Commission to meet the CEC in the afternoon.
The team reached the Nirbachan Bhaban around 1:30 pm.
The other leaders are Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, ASM Abdur Rob, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mostafa Mohsin Montu and Khairul Kabir Khokon.
Dr Kamal said, “We’ve informed the commission that we’ve received countless complaints from across the country that this election is all about muscle power.”
He said their candidates and supporters are being attacked constantly while no one of them can raise the voice in their constituencies.
The Oikya Front chief said a reign of terror has been established to discourage other candidates which he has never witnessed in his 55 years of election experience.
He told the reporters that they informed the EC about violent crimes against them, including the attack in Mirpur. “The CEC said they had felt embarrassed, but embarrassment won’t do unless effective actions are taken.”
Mentioning the power vested upon the EC he said, “As per the Constitution, the EC holds the power to control law enforcement agencies and order administration to ensure people’s rights.”
“No opposition candidate is getting any chance for electioneering. Have you seen any other party’s poster instead of a particular one? If you ever see please inform me so that I can also see,” he said.
Dr Kamal said as long as he is alive he will keep demanding that the election right of people which was attained at the cost of martyrs’ blood be ensured.
Oikya Front thinks that necessary actions regarding the attack on them in Mirpur should be taken within the day after tomorrow.
Kamal urged the reporters to ask the Commission why it is not using the constitutional power vested upon it.
ASM Abdur Rob said Oikya Front urged the EC to deploy army from today. – UNB
