The Awami League and Jatiya Oikyafront will formally start their electioneering today, with top leaders of both the sides attending the campaigns. 

Leaders of other political parties, including the main opposition Jatiya Party, will also launch their election campaigns today.

AL President Sheikh Hasina will kick off her party's polls campaign from Gopalganj.

She will first pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his mausoleum in Gopalganj's Tungipara, AL Joint Secretary Abdur Rahman told a press conference at the AL chief's Dhanmondi office yesterday. 

He added that Hasina would place a wreath at the grave of Bangabandhu and join a munajat and offer fateha.

At 8:00am today, she will leave Dhaka for Gopalganj by road from the Gono Bhaban, Rahman said. 

She will address a rally at Sheikh Lutfar Rahman Government Degree College ground in Kotalipara around 3:00pm, said an AL press release.

The prime minister will stay overnight at her ancestral home in Tungipara, the release added. 

On her way back to Dhaka, Hasina will speak at roadside rallies at seven places -- Bhanga intersection in Faridpur, Faridpur intersection, Rajbari intersection, Paturia ghat in Manikganj, Manikganj bus stand, Rabeya Medical College and Hospital premises in Dhamrai and Savar bus stand, Rahman told the briefing. 

AL sources said Hasina would not enjoy government privileges during the campaign.

After spending a couple of days in the capital for the Victory Day celebration and unveiling the party's election manifesto, Hasina may visit Sylhet to offer prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).

The party is scheduled to announce the manifesto on December 18, PM's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam told reporters at a city hotel on Monday night.

For Oikyafront, an alliance of BNP and several other political parties, a delegation led by Dr Kamal Hossain will begin its polls campaign from Sylhet today after offering prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).

The team, comprising of Kader Siddique, Nazrul Islam, Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Zafrullah Chowdhury, will go to Sylhet by air in the afternoon, said Syrul Kabir Khan, a staffer of BNP chairperson's media wing.

The BNP, a major component in the Oikyafront, for the first time starts its electioneering without party chief Khaleda Zia, who used to kick off her party's election campaign after offering munajat at the two shrines in Sylhet. 

Talking to our Sylhet correspondent yesterday, Ali Ahmed, district coordinator of Oikyafront, said Dr Kamal and other alliance leaders are slated to address a roadside rally near the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet-1 constituency.

They will also speak at two other roadside rallies each in Sylhet-3 and Sylhet-4 constituencies, added Ali, also general secretary of Sylhet district unit BNP. 

After staying overnight in Sylhet, the Oikyafront leaders will return to Dhaka on Thursday.

In JP Chairman HM Ershad's absence, his Special Assistant Ruhul Amin Hawlader will start the party's election campaign from the capital's Korail Bosti (slum) in favour of Ershad, who is contesting in Dhaka-17, the party said in a Facebook post.

Workers Party of Bangladesh chief Rashed Khan Menon, who is contesting in Dhaka-8, will hold a view exchange meeting at the city's Abu Jar Gifari College in Malibagh today.

He will also inaugurate his election office in Kakrail, party sources said.

Alleging mass discrimination to push it out of election, major political opposition Jatiya Oikyafront says it is now depending on the vote of the people.

“It's too apparent, the arrangement is complete to oust Oikyafront from the election,” Dr Kamal Hossain, key leader of the alliance, said in a press statement.

He alleged that the government had made “the arrangement” by pulling strings of the administration, judiciary, law enforcers, goons and the Election Commission.

“At this point, the people's vote is our hope. Voters never made a mistake in the past and they never will,” Kamal said.

He hoped that people would unite and overcome all challenges to appear for voting at the centres during the election on Sunday.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over Kamal's safety, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday offered to provide security for him.

Kamal, also the convener of Jatiya Oikyafront, however said he will seek police security only if he feels the need for it.

 Some DMP mid rank officials went to Kamal's chamber in Dhaka's Motijheel to discuss “security issues” around 12:10pm yesterday.

Prior to the meeting, several police teams took position in front of the chamber.

The meeting took place a day after a Jatiya Oikyafront delegation, led by Kamal, walked out of a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda following a heated exchange over the role of police during electioneering.

After meeting with the DMP, Kamal told reporters that the police officials said they would take security measures for him at both his house and chamber if needed.

“They even said they would provide transport security,” Kamal said.

Even though the DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia was supposed to meet Kamal, he could not go due to some other commitment and sent his apologies, he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Division Anwar Hossain claimed that Kamal has expressed satisfaction over the security measures taken for him by law enforcers.

“We're here as part of our regular duty. We had an open discussion and wanted to know if he [Kamal] has any observations regarding his security and he said he'll inform us over phone if he notices anything,” Anwar said.

Responding to a question on whether the alliance would stay in the election, Kamal said, “We have to hold on to this. So that they [rivals] cannot say that we moved away. This is our right. Why should we move away? If they make it impossible at the end of the day, then people will see.”

He also said, “The government's actions are casting doubt regarding the credibility and fairness of the polls.”

Meanwhile Bangladesh Police Service Association protested a comment about police made by Kamal during Tuesday's meeting with the CEC.

“His comment was motivated, objectionable and inconsiderate,” they said in a statement.

Kamal, at the meeting, had said some police officials were “acting like beasts".

The United States is concerned on the high-level of pre-election violence over the last two weeks, which the oppositions have borne the brunt.

"All parties have been victims of violence including minorities and female candidates. However, it appears that the opposition candidates had borne the brunt of most violence,” US Ambassador Earl Robert Miller said.

He came up with the comments while briefing journalists after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda at the Nirbachon Bhaban in Dhaka today.

He appreciated the opportunity to consult with the commission to see what plans it has made for a conducive atmosphere which would allow all people of every political affiliation to feel safe to go to the polling stations on the election day and cast their votes for their candidates of choice.

US wishes a free, fair and peaceful election will be held in Bangladesh on December 30, the statement said.