Jatiya Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Monday expressed hope that the armed forces will uphold their neutrality while carrying out the tough task of creating an atmosphere across the country for a free, fair, credible and inclusive 11th general election.
He, however, said that some incidents of obstruction to campaigning and attacks on opposition candidates and their supporters after the deployment of the armed forces were totally unexpected, reports UNB.
"Army was deployed from today [Monday]. We hope they will play a neutral and effective role as they did in the past,” he said while addressing a press conference at Oikya Front's Purana Paltan office in Dhaka.
“But the obstructions and attacks on our candidates and their supporters after the army’s deployment are totally unexpected.”
Troops began their election duties as part of the mobile striking force around the country from Monday.
They were seen patrolling the streets and posted in different areas nationwide since the morning.
The armed forces personnel will continue their polls duty till January 2, alongside other law enforcement agencies.
Dr Kamal, who also leads Gono Forum, said the nation expected the army to play a major role in creating a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair participatory election on December 30.
He alleged that there was a “blueprint” to hold a one-sided election. "This will not be acceptable to people with good sense and those who believe in democracy. This will be suicidal. If this happens, the country and the nation will face great damage."
He hoped that the army would stand by the nation at this moment.
Farce of an election
Replying to a question, Dr Kamal said the Election Commission should give the Oikya Front a scope to field its fresh candidates where candidatures of sheaf of paddy, the electoral symbol of BNP, have been annulled. "The election to those seats should be rescheduled."
He reaffirmed that their platform, launched in October, would be there in the election race till the end under any circumstance.
Speaking at the press conference, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government along with the commission was turning the election into a farce.
"People cannot even think of such an election atmosphere."
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addresses a press conference at the Jatiya Oikya Front's Purana Paltan office in Dhaka on December 24, 2018 | Focus Bangla
Fakhrul said that they sought permission for holding a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Thursday, but Dhaka Metropolitan Police still did not give them permission.
Earlier, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna read out a written speech of Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal, where he said a “chaotic and anarchic” situation had been prevailing in the country since the election schedule was announced.
"The number of violent incidents is rather increasing gradually."
He claimed that the Election Commission did not take any step to stop the attacks on the opposition candidates and their supporters, many of which even took place in presence of police in many areas.
‘Those who obstruct voting right are Yahya’s successors’
At another event earlier in the day, Dr Kamal Hossain also said that people had waged the Liberation War in 1971 with a dream of becoming the country's owners and enjoying their right to franchise.
"We are now untied to cast our votes, but those who are trying to deprive us of the voting right are the enemies of independence and successors of Yahya Khan of Pakistan," he said.
“These people have no respect for the country’s independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin Ahmed and the millions of martyrs,” he added.
"Even after 47 years of the country's independence, we have to go to election through waging a movement. What can be more shameful than this?" asked Dr Kamal, while addressing the program organized by Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad.
"Who have brought this shame on? We were supposed to exercise our franchise with joy. But, there is no congenial situation for voting."
"The martyrs entrusted us with the responsibility of protecting our independence and the voting right of people. We have to elect our representatives through exercising our franchise to protect our independence," he said.