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.

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.

Oikyafront's pledges in its election manifesto, to continue the trial for war criminals and end corruption, are “nothing but a joke”, Awami League joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference at the AL president's Dhanmondi political office, Rahman also said Oikyafront has paved the way for more than 23 successors of war criminals to participate in the election under the symbol of “sheaf of paddy”.

“So, when they say they'll continue the trial of war criminals, it's not only a matter of joke but also an inconceivable matter,” he said.

The AL leader said, “Who has given shelter to war criminals and nominated them? How will they stand against these war criminals?”

He also claimed that Oikyafront is misleading the nation with its confusing manifesto.

Rahman went on to say, “Dr Kamal has proven that they're making a plan to foil the election. I would like to let them know that the election will be held on December 30 at any cost.”

About the pre-election violence, Abdur Rahman said, “Our party men were not engaged in attacking the opponents and vandalising anyone's campaign office.”

Jatiya Oikyafront has pledged speedy trial of the attackers who pounced on students during the movement of safe roads a few months ago.

The major opposition alliance touched the pulse of the students involved with the popular student movement of August in its manifesto.

During that time, the attackers, wearing helmets, who became popular as “helmet goons”, drew outrage from all quarters, including the students.

Going further into developing the transport sector, Oikyafront pledged immediate steps to mitigate the traffic congestion in major cities.

It spoke of drawing elaborate policies, prioritising public transportation, and promising safe and comfortable commute for all citizens of the country.

Oikyafront also pledged to expand the railway sector.

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Nagorik Oikya convener and a leader of Oikyafront, read out the charter of the opposition alliance in Dhaka city today.

WHAT IS JATIYA OIKYAFRONT?

The Jatiya Oikyafront is an alliance of the BNP, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, ASM Abdur Rob’s Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Nagorik Oikya.

The Oikyafront was formed on October 13 with the demands of a national election under a neutral government after dissolution of parliament and release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

WHAT ARE OIKYAFRONT’S AGENDAS?

Formed with major political oppositions to ruling alliance, the Oikyafront includes ruling Awami League’s arch opposition BNP.

Currently, they are campaigning with a seven-point charter including freedom for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and election under a nonpartisan government.

WHAT ARE OIKYAFRONT’S DEMANDS?

The 11-point goal announced by the alliance includes ensuring checks and balances in the state power, decentralisation of administration, freeing MPs from the stringent restrictions imposed on them under article 70 of the constitution, formation of a constitutional commission to make appointments to all constitutional and other important posts and full independence of the judiciary.

The alliance also announced a seven-point demand, including the one for holding the next parliamentary election under a nonpartisan government, dissolution of parliament before the polls and reconstitution of the Election Commission.

Krishak Sramik Janata League has walked out of Jatiya Oikyafront alleging that the alliance failed to wage movement against the government.

The party President Kader Siddique made the announcement at a press conference in the capital Dhaka this morning.

Kader blamed the Oikyafront leaders for their inactive role and failure to wage movement against the government.

The Oikyafront, which was formed before the last parliamentary election, could not play any role in waging anti-government movement for gas price hike and such other current issues, he said.

However, he vowed to carry out movement through forming a new platform for establishing the people’s right to vote.

The Jatiya Oikyafront is an alliance of BNP, Gonoforum, Nagorik Oikya, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab) and some other political parties.