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.
Leftists have rejected the recent election of Bangladesh alleging that state mechanisms were orchestrated to pull a victory of the Awami League.
The administration, law enforcement and intelligence agencies together played a role to influence the election in favour of Awami League, they alleged.
“We reject this fraudulent election and the fake government,” said Ruhin Hossain Prince, a leader of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).
The programme, a public hearing, held at Jatiya Press Club today, heard accounts of 82 Left Democratic Alliance candidates who took part in the election.
They alleged, all parties except for the components of Awami League-led alliance faced hindrance in every step before, during and after election.
They also alleged, an adverse, fearful situation was created ahead of the election; activists of the AL and its associated bodies attacked rallies and processions of LDA candidates, removed their posters, even assaulted and threatened the candidates.
Mohammad Shah Alam, coordinator of Left Democratic Alliance, demanded abolishing the 11th parliament and arrangement of a fresh election under a neutral administration.
He also said the alliance will wage movement for holding parliamentary polls under a caretaker government.
Condemning violence in Bangladesh, the United Nations has urged all sides to show restraint and ensure a peaceful post electoral environment in the country.
The USA and the European Union have also denounced violence over the just concluded parliamentary elections, and called for addressing all electoral complaints in a peaceful manner.
Welcoming the participation of all major political parties in the general election for the first time in 10 years, they said it was a positive development which reflected aspirations of people for democracy.
The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement on Monday said, “The United Nations is aware of violent incidents and reports of irregularities in the Bangladesh general election.”
The UN regretted the loss of life and injuries sustained by candidates and voters during the electoral campaign and on the voting day, it said.
The US in a statement yesterday commended the Bangladeshis who voted in the election as well as the decision of all major opposition parties to participate.
“The United States remains deeply invested in the future of Bangladesh and its democratic development. The United States is Bangladesh's largest foreign investor, largest single-country market for Bangladeshi exports, and home to a large community of Americans of Bangladeshi origin,” said Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of the US state department.
However, it expressed concern over reports of harassment, intimidation, and violence in the pre-election period saying that those incidents made it difficult for many opposition candidates and their supporters to meet, hold rallies, and campaign freely. “We are also concerned that election-day irregularities prevented some people from voting, which undermined faith in the electoral process.”
He said his country strongly encourages all parties to refrain from violence and request the EC to work constructively with all sides to address claims of irregularities.
“Bangladesh's impressive record of economic development and respect for democracy and human rights are mutually reinforcing, and we look forward to continue working with the ruling government and opposition towards advancing these interrelated goals,” reads the statement.
The EU said the mobilisation of voters and the participation of the opposition in the polls reflected the people's aspirations for democracy.
“However, violence has marred the election day, and significant obstacles to a level playing field remained in place throughout the process and have tainted the electoral campaign and the vote,” an EU spokesperson said in a statement yesterday.
Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the EU, in his statement said the relevant authorities should now ensure a proper examination of allegations of irregularities and commit to full transparency in their resolution.
Claiming the December 30 election to be “farcical”, Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday called for a national dialogue to find out ways for holding a fresh election as per the constitution.
“We had to witness a farce in the name of an election. It won't bring any legality and stability. This can, in no way, be accepted,” said the noted jurist.
He came up with these remarks while addressing a discussion organised by the Gonoforum at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, marking the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Dr Kamal, who presided over the discussion, urged all the political parties to sit for a dialogue in a bid to discuss the formation of an elected government by holding a fresh election as per the constitution.
Dr Kamal, who is also the president of the Gonoforum, said, “A sane person cannot play such a game with the country's 17 crore people. This can't be done unless a person is mentally imbalanced.”
He also questioned if there was anyone who could call the election a free and fair one.
“It's regrettable what happened in the name of election even after 48 years [of the country's independence]. It was not supposed to happen.”
The eminent jurist said the election was held on the night of December 29 instead of December 30.
“Why did they do that? I would like ask them what is the necessity of doing such an unusual act? Is it a game? Is it fair to play a game with the country's 17 crore people?”
Dr Kamal also said the December 30 election was a good example of political tricks. “I would like to request you, please refrain from resorting to political tricks and do everything through talks and as per the constitution. There can be no alternative to that.”
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rob, Gonoforum Executive President Subrata Chowdhury, Gonoforum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Gonoforum MP-elect Mukabbir Khan, Gonoforum leader Maj Gen (retd) Amsa Amin, also spoke among others in the discussion.
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, who declared himself the leader of the opposition in parliament, now wants the status of a deputy prime minister. But such a post does not exist.
The leader of the opposition now enjoys the status of a minister. If it is to be given the deputy prime minister's status, the constitution first needs to be amended to create the post.
“I will request the new government to formulate a law to upgrade the post of the opposition leader to deputy prime minister. I will place the proposal in parliament. I will also speak to the Speaker [of parliament] in this regard,” he said, while talking to reporters after taking oath as an MP at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath at her office in parliament yesterday.
Ershad has been elected MP from Rangpur-3.
Twenty-two JP MPs-elect, except Ershad, took the oath as lawmakers of the 11th parliament on January 3. The JP chief could not take the oath due to illness.
After taking the oath yesterday, Ershad went to the room designated for the leader of the opposition at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Sitting on the chair of the opposition leader, he told reporters that he was proud of taking oath as the opposition leader.
The former military ruler said he would request the government to elect the deputy speaker from the opposition MPs.
Ershad, who grabbed the state power in March 1982 by ousting the elected government of President Justice Abdus Sattar, said he would also request the government to upgrade the post of the opposition whip.
He said he would also urge the government to appoint more opposition MPs as chiefs of different parliamentary standing committees.
“We want to play the role of a strong opposition party in parliament. We will play our role following the rules of procedure in parliament. We will not boycott the parliament like the previous opposition parties,” he said.
JP Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga told reporters that Ershad would be the first male in the last 27 to act as the leader of the opposition.
Just a day after the JP Parliamentary Party decided to join the Awami League-led grand alliance government, Ershad on January 4 came up with a completely opposite decision.
The JP chairman in a statement announced that his party would be the main opposition in parliament with no representation in the new cabinet.
Ershad, who was forced to step down from the president post following a mass movement in December 1990, also announced that he would act as the leader of the opposition and his younger brother and JP co-chairman GM Quader would be the deputy leader of the opposition.
Talking to this newspaper, several JP lawmakers termed Ershad's decision funny and arbitrary.
Earlier on January 3, JP Parliamentary Party unanimously decided that since JP contested the election under the banner of the AL-led grand alliance, they would join the government.
Sources at the Parliament Secretariat said Speaker Shirin Sharmin has yet to take measures to recognise Ershad as the opposition leader.
Ershad's wife, Raushan Ershad, was the leader of the opposition in the 10th parliament.
In the December 30 polls, the AL-led grand alliance secured 288 seats. JP, a key component of the alliance, bagged 22.
The BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront managed to win only seven seats, while independent candidates got three.
The election in Gaibandha-3 was rescheduled for January 27 following the death of a candidate, and re-polling will take place at three centres in Brahmanbaria-2 on January 9.
The JP became the main opposition in the 10th parliament formed after the 2014 election, which was boycotted by the BNP-led alliance.
The JP in that election won 34 seats and its senior leader Raushan Ershad was recognised as the leader of the opposition. Three JP MPs were also made ministers.
Their dual role has been criticised. The party could not play its due role as the main opposition in parliament in the last five years.
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today thanked Dr Kamal Hossain for realising the "mistake" that Jatiya Oikyafront had made by incorporating Jamaat-e-Islami in the recent 11th parliamentary election.
"I would like to thank Dr Kamal Hossain for realising their political mistake," Minister Hasan said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal yesterday said it was a mistake on the part of his party Gonoforum to have joined the December 30 polls with Jamaat leaders contesting under the alliance banner.
Hasan Mahmud further said that the JOF will make another mistake if their elected candidates do not take the oath to join the 11th Parliament.
"I hope they will realise it and join the parliament by taking the oath of office," said the minister.
"A party is trying to drag the country backwards. I think no conspiracy against the country will work," he said.
Responding to a question about the recently enacted Digital Security Act, he said that the government will work on it so that no panic remains among the journalists about the act.
"I always welcome all types of criticism. When I was the Environment Minister, English daily The Daily Star published several reports criticising the ministry, even they published cartoons. But, we gave them an environment award. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) was also awarded although they had criticised the ministry," said the minister.
Mentioning that criticism speeds up anyone's journey, the minister said, "But, blind and one-sided criticism is not useful. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has introduced the culture of welcoming any criticism."
"This time, Awami League has pledged that the country's villages will be turned into cities. Coordinated efforts are required to move the country forward. Mass media also play a vital role in this effort," said Hasan Mahmud.
He also said that a huge revolution has been made not only in the country's online media but also in print, electronic and social media.
"Around 8 crore people are using social media," he mentioned.
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