Oikya Front rejects polls results, calls for fresh voting

Alleging massive rigging, intimidation and violence by the ruling camp, opposition coalition of Jatiya Oikya Front on Sunday evening called on the election commission to cancel what it called a farcical election.

Front leader Kamal Hossain also rejected the results of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

“We demand fresh elections to be supervised by a neutral caretaker government,” he told a press conference in the opposition’s initial reaction to the electoral process which he said was plagued by ballot stuffing overnight, forcing out opposition polling agents, and killing of more than 20 people.

The opposition coalition, the Front leader added, would continue its movement for restoration of democracy, the people’s rights, and rule of law in the country.

Accompanied by other leaders including BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Kamal Hossain mentioned that they received ‘news of vote rigging from almost all constituencies across the country’.

As a consequence of coercion, intimidation and vote rigging, more than 100 candidates boycotted the polls, he pointed out.

He mentioned that the opposition parties were assured of “no arrest, no fictitious cases and no harassment” of opposition leaders and activists after announcement of the polls schedule.

“We joined the election race following assurance from the prime minister and the election commission despite all bitter and scary experiences of the past… But the Awami terrorist forces increased attacks on the Oikya Front leaders and workers, injuring 17 candidates and 14,000 leaders and activists, and 11,000 leaders and workers were arrested and 18 leaders contested the polls from jail,” the Front leader pointed out.

At the press conference held at Kamal Hossain’s Bailey Road residence, the opposition leaders said they would sit on Monday and give their formal reaction and announce their next course of action.