Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury today called upon the Oikyafront leaders elected in the December 30 national election to take oath as lawmakers of the 11th parliament.

“There is still time for those MPs who did not to take oath yet,” Dr Shirin said after paying homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar.

Shirin Sharmin was elected as speaker of the parliament for the third consecutive term during the first session of the 11th parliament yesterday.

"As the speaker, I want to make the Jatiya Sangsad functional by giving equal opportunity to all treasury bench, opposition and independent lawmakers,” she said.

Deputy Speaker of the parliament Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah also paid homage at the National Memorial.

A total of eight leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront including six of its key component BNP were elected in the December 30 national election but did not take oath as lawmakers of the parliament yet.

The Oikyafront and the BNP rejected the election result bringing the allegation of vote rigging and ballot stuffing and demanded a fresh election under a nonpartisan caretaker government.   

Stating that the low presence of voters in the recent city polls is an “ominous sign” for the nation, Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain today said the two mayors-elect of Dhaka north and south city corporations were not elected by majority of the voters.

Talking to reporters after a steering committee meeting of the alliance at his Motijheel chamber, the veteran politician also alleged that the government has destroyed the entire election process with its “irresponsible and anti-constitutional acts”.

“They [two mayors-elect] can’t be called mayors elected with majority people’s votes,” he said in reply to a question.

In a written statement, Dr Kamal, also the president of Gonoforum, said the country’s people, including the young generation, have expressed their “no-confidence” in the government, the Election Commission and the election process in the recently-held Dhaka city polls.

“The mayors-elect got the verdict of only 5-7 percent people. The remaining results are made through fake votes cast through EVMs,” he observed.

The Oikyafront chief also said democracy in the country, the rule of law and electoral system have been destroyed by the AL government which does not want voters to go to polling stations. “They intimidate the voters."

He said people did not go to polling stations as they think this government would not be changed with their votes. "It’s an ominous sign both for the country and the nation.”

Dr Kamal also said people are losing interest in voting as an awful situation has been created in the country due to the government’s unconstitutional acts. “The country can’t be run this way. We must bring a change together with people.”

He said the people of Bangladesh never accepted autocracy and they will not do it now either as they are very conscious.

Replying to a question about the inaction of Jatiya Oikyafront leaders, he said they do politics depending on people who are the sources of power. “We’ll do whatever necessary to encourage people. We’ll of course hold rallies, meetings and take out processions, if necessary, to bring a change together with people.”

The Oikyafront chief also said the country’s people achieved their targets and brought positive changes in the past with united efforts. “There’ll be no exception to that this time, too.”

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Gonoforum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, presidium member Mohsen Rashid and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury were, among others, present.

Awami League candidates Fazle Noor Taposh and Atiqul Islam were elected mayors of Dhaka south and north city corporations respectively in the elections held on Saturday.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain today laid emphasis on spreading the call for unity to every locality to free the country from 'autocracy' and establish 'effective' democracy.

 "Those who want to continue autocratic rule, they create divisions among people and use the communalism for their parochial party interests. The autocratic rule can be removed if people remain united. We must spread the call for unity to all localities, districts and villages," he said.

Dr Kamal further said, "We had got huge response to the call of unity and succeeded in the past. We'll have to go to all localities and villages with the call for unity. We need to consolidate our unity so that people can play an effective role as the real owners of the country. That's why we're calling for the unity."

He came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion arranged by Muktijote, a political platform, at the Jatiya Press Club.

Dr Kamal also the president of Gonoforum, said democracy, the rule of law and constitutional rule will be restored while the nation's desired goal can be achieved if people get back their ownership of the country and can play their due role.

"Let's all the common people get united and gain the strength to become the real owners of the country. We'll get effective democracy and we'll be able to establish people's governance at all levels, including district and local ones, if we only can get united," he observed.

The Oikyafront chief said they are giving importance to the national unity to bring the country under the control of people. "As per the constitution, people are the owners of the country, not any temporary government. Even, a legal government is only the representative of the country's owners. Those who grab power illegally, they are nothing, but the usurpers of power."

He said the 'despotic regime' tries to cling to power by destroying power and weakening people in various ways. "They neither want to admit that people are the owners of the country nor want to empower them."

Dr Kamal warned that no autocratic ruler could stay in power in the face of united resistance of people. "Though autocrats could remain in power for a temporary period, but they finally had to go. They never succeeded."

Stating that the next election is very important, he said they will take steps for giving democracy an institutional shape and bringing dynamism into the economy for building a bright future of the country. "People are in favour of us, and this's our big strength."

Speaking at the programme, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) President ASM Abdur Rob said the current government does not allow people to hold meetings, rallies and express their opinions for 'lack of' the rule of law and democracy.

He said the country is now run as per the 'whims of one person' as the government has destroyed all the state institutions. "The country is now in a danger. Terrorism is going on in the name of development. It can't continue for a long time."

He said the nation was annihilated through the killing of Buet student Abrar for taking a stance in favour of the country. "Our future national existence has been put at stake through the killing of Abrar. The government will face the fall for the murder of Abrar."

He said people want to get rid of 'misrule' and 'vote robbery, through a qualitative change in the country's political culture. "People must be made the owners of the country and the government must be accountable to people."

Gonoforum general secretary Dr Reza Kibria said the country's people hate the current government for its 'repressive acts and misrule'.

Describing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia as the most popular leader in the country, he said the government has kept her in jail 'unfairly'. "We demand her unconditional release."