Jatiya Oikyafront chief Dr Kamal Hossain will hold a press conference today about the arrest of opposition leaders and activists and the election atmosphere.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the press conference is expected to be held at Jatiya Press Club at 3:00pm.

"We've taken a decision that Dr Kamal Hossain, on behalf of the Jatiya Oikyafront, will hold a press conference on Saturday," he told reporters after a meeting of the alliance's steering committee at BNP chairperson's Gulshan office. The BNP leader said police continued to arrest opposition leaders and activists in “false” cases so that they cannot stay in the field and take part in the election. "We want a change in the current situation."

He said the government must stop the arrest and raid on the houses of opposition leaders and activists, and withdraw false cases to ensure an atmosphere conducive to fair election.

Fakhrul said Oikyafront will remain in the election race under any circumstances.

Asked whether they talked about seat-sharing with Oikyafront's partners, he said they will finalise it after scrutiny of nomination papers on December 2.