All contenders of the Jatiya Oikyafront in the 11th parliamentary polls will submit memorandum to the Election Commission on January 3 demanding re-election under a nonpartisan administration immediately.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain made the announcement after a meeting of top brass of the opposition alliance this evening.

“And, they will announce the next course of programme to press home their demand,” Kamal also Gono Forum president said.

The contenders from other opposition parties will also submit their memoranda to the EC office in Agargaon area of Dhaka on the Day, Kamal also said.

The photo shows that Jatiya Oikyafront top leaders attend a meeting at the chamber of alliance convener Dr Kamal Hossain in Dhaka on Monday, December 31, 2018. Photo:Collected

“A drama in the name of national election was staged yesterday and the countrymen perceived from their hearts that how the election process of a sovereign and independent country was destroyed,” Kamal said.

Apart from the countrymen, the people across the globe have also saw the role of the prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) and her loyal chief election commissioner (Nurul Huda) in the election, Kamal said.

“Though the ruling Awami League sees its victory in the election it has failed the 17 crore people. A grave of our desired democracy was dug through their (AL) victory,” he said.

Earlier, the Oikyafront leaders held a meeting to decide their next strategy as the combine, which includes major opposition BNP, experienced an unprecedented defeat in the 11th parliamentary election yesterday.

The top brass of the alliance held the meeting at Dr Kamal Hossain's chamber in Purana Paltan area of Dhaka, Latiful Bari Hamim, a staff of the Oikyafront's media wing, told The Daily Star.

Oikyafront and BNP-led 20-Party Alliance bagged only seven seats and others three seats while the Awami League-led grand alliance won 288 seats in the 11th parliamentary elections.

HOW WAS THE ELECTION?

Voting for the 11th parliamentary election ended peacefully in Dhaka; but was tainted with violence elsewhere across the country and cost the lives of at least a dozen people.

Reports of casualties came in from Cumilla, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangamati, Cox’s Bazar, Bogura, Noakhali, Narsingdi and Gazipur.

Allegations of vote rigging, election clashes, intimidation and irregularities came in from several other constituencies and capital Dhaka city.

Also, the election saw opposition candidates boycotting elections in at least 43 constituencies; 42 of who were JatiyaOikyafront runners.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) today demanded judicial probe over the reported violations during the 11th parliamentary election.

The anti-graft watchdog also voiced concern as the election was "questionable and debatable" due to allegations of violations of code of conduct, use of force, and death of 19 people.

In a statement issued today, its Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said: "The set of violence and multifaceted violations of election code that has raised doubts over the election and its results must be investigated impartially.”

He said: "We demanded that level playing grounds be created for all stakeholders from the beginning. However, news of attacks, repression and lawsuits intended to harass the candidates and their supporters of a contending alliance as reported by the national and international media is an ominous sign for democracy."

"Such harassment allegedly continued even the night before and day of elections. The most worrying fact is that people might lose their confidence on the system of democracy."

He goes on saying: "The way the chief election commissioner tried to shrug off the allegations that the polling agents of an alliance is embarrassing and the concern has deepened whether the commission could effectively carry out its constitutional duty."

“Ensuring justice through a judicial probe of the allegations will be of immense value for the credibility, self-confidence and public trust of a government that is being formed in the wake of an unprecedented outcome of an unprecedented election,” he added.

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed, Orchid Chakma, Prabir Das, Amran Hossain, Sk Enamul Haq

A presiding officer brings out the ballot papers for a voter who uses a wheelchair at Dania College centre in the capital's Jatrabari. Many people with disabilities faced difficulties casting votes as most of the centres were not disabled-friendly.

A police team outside a voting centre in Narayanganj.

Shamim Osman, AL's candidate for Narayanganj-4, sips a cup of tea while exchanging greetings with voters outside a polling centre in Dharmaganj area.

Two first-time voters show off their ink covered thumbs after voting at Avoy Bonodini High School in the capital's Rajarbagh.

Urdu-speaking voters make their way to a voting centre at Dhaka Residential Model College in the capital.

A crowd gathers outside the polling centre at Madhubagh Madrasa in the capital after the Awami League men shut the gate and refused to let anyone in.

Voters checking their phones for their voter numbers at Ali Ahmed Majumder School and College in Dhaka's Goran. Many were turned away after failing to find the number.

Jatiya Oikyafront today decided to hold a mass hearing programme on February 24, bringing allegations of vote rigging, balloting stuffing and violence in the December 30 national election.

The Oikyafront leaders took the decision in a steering committee meeting with Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain in the chair at their Paltan office, according to a press release.

The steering and coordination committee members of the Oikyafront will hold a preparatory meeting on February 17 to make the mass hearing programme a success, it said.

Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today describing the BNP-led Oikyafront’s decision to boycott parliament as “politically wrong” reiterating her call to them to join the Jatiya Sangsad.

BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront took part in the December 30 national election and secured a total of eight seats including six of its key partner BNP.

Soon after the election, both the BNP and the Oikyafront rejected the polls result bringing numerous allegations including vote rigging, ballot stuffing and widespread violence during the election.

The eight leaders elect in the election have yet taken oath as the lawmakers of the 11th parliament.

Under article 67 (1) (a) of the constitution, lawmakers' seats fall vacant if they fail to take oath within 90 days from the date of the first sitting of the House.