Dhaka, Dec 30 – The opposition alliance Jatiya Oikya Front, where the BNP is a major partner, rejected the results of just concluded 11th parliamentary elections raising allegations of vote rigging indiscriminately almost in every constituency and demanded cancellation of the election and holding a fresh election under a non-partisan neutral government.“From almost every part of Bangladesh, we have received reports about that there was vote decoity. At this point, almost 100 candidates have withdrawn. We have rejected the elections. In this situation, we call upon the Election Commission to can and declare void this election, which is a farcical election and do so immediately. Now our demand fresh election be held under a non-party neutral government in a shortest possible time and earliest possible,” said Oikya Front chief and president of Ganoforum Dr Kamal Hossain.
Speaking at a crowded press conference at his Bailey Road residence, he said they received of similar information of vote decoity from almost all the constituencies. Resulting in, over 100 candidates belonging different opposition parties so far rejected the polls.
The Oikya Front leaders came up with their immediate reactions following a meeting of steering committee hours after ending of the polling in 299 constituencies boycotted earlier by around 100 candidates.
On Oikya Front’s next course of action, if their demands are not met, he said the Oikya Front would determine its next course of action at its steering committee meeting today.
Asked about their stance if many of its candidates win some constituencies, Oikya Front spokesperson and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that they have totally rejected the poll results.
“We have rejected the total elections. This is not an election. This is a cruel mockery to the democracy,” he said.
“This election proved that the boycotting the January 5, 2014 elections by the BNP was not a wrong decision. It also proved that holding a free and fair election under a political government is never possible.”
The BNP had boycotted the last general elections as their demand for holding the polls under caretaker government scrapped by the incumbent government was not met.
In his written statement, Dr Kamal Hossain regretted that they took part in the elections keeping faith on the prime minister and the EC’s assurance not to harass the opposition candidates, leaders and activists after the announcement of the poll schedule.
However, he said, around 14,000 opposition leaders and activists including 17 opposition candidates were injured in massive attacks while 11,000 leaders and activists were arrested implicating them in false cases across the country. Of them, 18 candidates took part in the polls remaining in jails, he said.
The Oikya Front leader alleged that almost all the agents of the sheaf of paddy, the poll symbol of the BNP, forced to come out from the polling centres across the country and many of them were beaten.
He said at least 21 people were killed in election-related violence and hundreds of Oikya Front leaders and activists including candidates are now under treatment in the hospitals and clinics.
The elderly leader also criticized for carrying out attacks on on-duty journalists and not allowing the TV journalists inside the polling centres so that they cannot broadcast the news on stuffing ballots.
Oikya Front leader ASM Abdur Rab, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mostafa Mohsin Montu, among others, were present at the press conference.
Earlier in the day, Dr Kamal Hossain told the media that they are shocked with the farcical elections which he said worst one in the last 47 years.
He also expressed grave concern over the allegations of vote rigging in most of the constituencies.
After visiting different polling centres in his constituency in Thakurgaon, Mirza Alamgir also termed the elections farcical one. – Staff Reporter
