Oikya Front decision on polls participation today
Kamal Hossain led-Jatiya Oikya Front will unveil its decision on joining or boycotting the 11th parliamentary elections on Sunday, reports UNB.
Kamal Hossain will announce the decision at a press conference at the National Press Club at 1:00pm, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Talking to reporters at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office after a meeting of the Oikya Front, he said, “BNP standing committee and 20-party leaders had meetings before the Jatiya Oikya Front’s one to decide about election participation. After a long discussion, we’ve taken a decision that Jatiya Oikya Front leader Kamal Hossain will inform the nation about our decision through a press conference.”
Earlier, the BNP standing committee members followed by 20-party leaders held the meeting at the same venue.
After the meeting of the 20-party alliance, LDP president Oli Ahmed said their alliance will come up with its final decision on joining the 11th parliamentary elections within a day or two.
“We discussed the election issue and the country’s overall situation. We didn’t take the final decision yet whether we’ll participate in the election or boycott it. Our alliance’s main partner BNP will make the decision public after discussion with Jatiya Oikya Front within a day or two,” he added.
Oil said their alliance is now giving its main focus on the release of their leader Khaleda Zia. “She’ll have to be freed to ensure an election atmosphere.”
Accusing the government of arresting the leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance, he said a level-playing field is yet to be created.
Replying to a question, Oli said the registered political parties under the 20-party will write letters to the Election Commission on Sunday informing it that they may contest the polls either with their own election symbols or with BNP’s election symbol if they decide to participate in the election.
He, however, said his party, LDP, will contest the election with its own symbol if they finally join it.
Top leaders of the 20-party alliance joined the hour-long meeting that began around 6:15pm.
Earlier, BNP standing committee members held a meeting there and discussed the election issues.
After the meeting with the 20-party, top leaders of the Jatiya Oikya Front also sat in the meeting with the BNP senior leaders.
However, Oikya Front chief Kamal Hossain could not join the meeting due to his illness.
On Thursday evening, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in a televised address to the nation announced the schedule for the next general election.
As per the schedule, the 11th parliamentary elections will be held on 23 December (Sunday) while the last date for submitting nomination papers is 19 November, the date for scrutinising nomination papers is 22 November and the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is 29 November.
