Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said Jatiya Oikyafront's demand for holding a re-election is unconstitutional and “very illogical”.

“Jatiya Oikyafront's demand is an expression of disrespect to the people,” the minister said while talking to reporters after attending a programme, organised to accord a farewell to Zafrul Hasan, outgoing director of National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO), at its Bailey Road office.

The law minister said Oikyafront has no right to dishonour the people, who have cast their votes in the December 30 general election.

Replying to a question, Anisul Huq also said, Hefajat-e-Islam Chief Ahmad Shafi's comment about girls' education is opposing to the positive development of the country.

“Last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recognised Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasa as equivalent to master's degree, which was a positive step. Allama Shafi is a senior person. With due respect to him, I want to say that his comment will be opposite to the country's positive development. It will be better if such a statement is retracted,” the law minister said.

“The government will not bring any change in running the country or its [government] policies. The Sheikh Hasina-led government is committed to upholding the rights of women. The commitment will be strengthened and the country will move forward; and it's the government's policy and belief,” he said.

Acting director of NLASO Bikash Kumar Saha presided over the function, where Law Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque Dulal and its Joint Secretary Golam Sarwar also spoke.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders will not attend the prime minister's tea party today.

In a letter sent to the Gono Bhaban, the BNP-led alliance yesterday said its leaders will not attend the party.

A three-member delegation of the alliance handed the letter to an employee of the Gono Bhaban, Jahangir Alam Mintu, media coordinator of the alliance, told The Daily Star.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is hosting the event to exchange greetings with leaders of 75 political parties and alliances.

The PM had held dialogue with leaders of these parties before the election.

Distribution of the invitation letters began on January 26.

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of eight left-leaning parties, will also not attend the party.

Partners of the AL-led grand alliance, Jatiya Party, Bikalpa Dhara-led Juktafront, Islami Oikya Jote, Khelafat Andolan, and Khelafat Majlish are among the parties expected to attend the event.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders took the decision at a meeting on Thursday.

In its letter, the Oikyafront said the government was formed through a farcical election on December 30.

It also mentioned that many leaders and activists of the Oikyafront were behind the bars and it was not possible for the leaders to attend the tea Party in the given circumstance.

Similarly, LDA leader Mujahidul Islam Selim said, “After holding a farcical election, the government is now organising a tea party. We will not go there to legitimise the election.”

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the BNP's decision not to join the tea party exposed the party's age old negative attitude, reports UNB.

Speaking at a press conference at Awami League president's Dhanmondi office, he said the Jatiya Oikyafront leaders could openly discuss various political issues by joining the programme.

"Many things can be discussed while taking tea as politicians are used to talk about politics. So, the BNP's representatives could talk to the prime Minister at the tea party. They could openly tell her if they have anything to say," Quader said.

Jatiya Oikyafront will brief media this evening on overall situation of today’s general election.

The press conference will be held at his Paltan office after 8:00pm today, the party sources said.

Earlier at a press briefing around 2:30pm, Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain said he was concerned over the election atmosphere.

The voting in the 11th parliamentary election ended in all the 300 constituencies across the country at 4:00pm.

Terming the prevailing trend of robbing the state wealth as horrible, Jatiya Oikyafront today said that the country and its sovereignty will plunge into a severe internal crisis if it is continued.

Jatiya Oikyafront, led-by Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, thinks that such type of irregularities and misdeeds can’t take place unless government helps, said a press statement signed by Oikyafront leader Reza Kibria.

“It is now proved that the undemocratic government has pushed the country to the verge of collapse only to take the state power under its absolute control through indulging in irregularities and corruption,” Oikyafront said in the context of the ongoing crackdown on the casino and illegal business.

In the statement, Oikyafront demanded the resignation of the present government and called upon it to announce a national government to uphold the country’s independence and sovereignty.

The Oikyafront, in the statement, also said that holding of a national dialogue with political parties and professional bodies will be the time buffeting step to resolve the prevailing crisis.

It also demanded the formation of a national commission to probe the government’s indulgence in criminal activities including abduction, killing and enforced disappearance and corruption.

The Oikyafront also demanded the immediate release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other political parties’ leaders from jail.