Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed, Orchid Chakma, Prabir Das, Amran Hossain, Sk Enamul Haq

A presiding officer brings out the ballot papers for a voter who uses a wheelchair at Dania College centre in the capital's Jatrabari. Many people with disabilities faced difficulties casting votes as most of the centres were not disabled-friendly.

A police team outside a voting centre in Narayanganj.

Shamim Osman, AL's candidate for Narayanganj-4, sips a cup of tea while exchanging greetings with voters outside a polling centre in Dharmaganj area.

Two first-time voters show off their ink covered thumbs after voting at Avoy Bonodini High School in the capital's Rajarbagh.

Urdu-speaking voters make their way to a voting centre at Dhaka Residential Model College in the capital.

A crowd gathers outside the polling centre at Madhubagh Madrasa in the capital after the Awami League men shut the gate and refused to let anyone in.

Voters checking their phones for their voter numbers at Ali Ahmed Majumder School and College in Dhaka's Goran. Many were turned away after failing to find the number.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday called upon the voters to go to polling centres early in the morning and cast votes without fear.

“I urge the voters to go to polling stations early in the morning and cast ballots. Don't be afraid. If you go there, criminals will flee. They cannot withstand the people's strength,” he told a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

Replying to a query, the eminent jurist hoped people would vote for the Oikyafront candidates if today's election is held in a free and fair manner.

“If you talk to people, they will tell you that they want a change. We hope and believe that people will vote in our favour.” 

In a statement distributed at the briefing, the Gonoforum president called upon the young first-time voters to exercise their franchise.

“Keep in mind that if you are afraid, you are done; if you turn around, you are Bangladesh.”

Dr Kamal claimed that there are apprehension and confusion among people over the polls, and said this needs to be removed immediately.

“The polls will be held as the day breaks. There should have been a festive atmosphere now across the country. Instead, there are worries and confusion in people's mind.”

Dr Kamal, an architect of the country's constitution, called upon members of the army, the navy, police, Rab, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar, the VDP and Coast Guard to play a glorious role in the election like in the past.

“Your role in peacekeeping is being praised worldwide, and this has increased your scopes across the globe. You will remain careful so that it is not hampered in any way.”

The Oikyafront convener also urged Election Commission officials, returning officers and assistant returning officers to ensure people's voting rights.

“If you violate anyone's rights, remember that someone else is violating the rights of your mother, father, wife and children. If you do that, people, history and the law will not forgive you.”

Pointing to government employees, he said they do not belong to any party, and they serve people. “People are the owners of the country. Don't deprive them of the joy of casting votes.”

He also urged public officials not to abide by “any unlawful order”.

Responding to a query, the jurist said there is no division among the components of the Oikyafront. “Rather, our unity has been strengthened.”

About recent attacks on a number of Oikyafront candidates, he said, “I never saw or heard about such attacks and oppression in my life.”

He also reiterated that they would not quit the polls under any circumstances.

Speaking at the briefing, BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan claimed that till Friday, 11,506 Oikyafront leaders and activists were arrested since the announcement of the election schedule on November 8.

He also alleged that Oikyafront men faced at least 2,896 attacks that left nine people dead and 13,252 others injured. 

Later, Dr Kamal and other top Oikyafront leaders held a view-exchange meeting with foreign journalists at the DRU. 

He briefed them about the attacks, cases and arrests of Oikyafront leaders and activists from November 8 to December 25.

The Oikyafront leader alleged that 2,833 attacks were made on the opposition men by Awami League men and police. At least, 12,923 people, including 49 Oikyafront contenders, were injured.

“Instead of being a time of festive competition, the campaign trail turned into a nightmare. The election road is pitted with serious obstacles, threats, intimidation and violent attacks against the opposition men,” he said.

All contenders of the Jatiya Oikyafront in the 11th parliamentary polls will submit memorandum to the Election Commission on January 3 demanding re-election under a nonpartisan administration immediately.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain made the announcement after a meeting of top brass of the opposition alliance this evening.

“And, they will announce the next course of programme to press home their demand,” Kamal also Gono Forum president said.

The contenders from other opposition parties will also submit their memoranda to the EC office in Agargaon area of Dhaka on the Day, Kamal also said.

The photo shows that Jatiya Oikyafront top leaders attend a meeting at the chamber of alliance convener Dr Kamal Hossain in Dhaka on Monday, December 31, 2018. Photo:Collected

“A drama in the name of national election was staged yesterday and the countrymen perceived from their hearts that how the election process of a sovereign and independent country was destroyed,” Kamal said.

Apart from the countrymen, the people across the globe have also saw the role of the prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) and her loyal chief election commissioner (Nurul Huda) in the election, Kamal said.

“Though the ruling Awami League sees its victory in the election it has failed the 17 crore people. A grave of our desired democracy was dug through their (AL) victory,” he said.

Earlier, the Oikyafront leaders held a meeting to decide their next strategy as the combine, which includes major opposition BNP, experienced an unprecedented defeat in the 11th parliamentary election yesterday.

The top brass of the alliance held the meeting at Dr Kamal Hossain's chamber in Purana Paltan area of Dhaka, Latiful Bari Hamim, a staff of the Oikyafront's media wing, told The Daily Star.

Oikyafront and BNP-led 20-Party Alliance bagged only seven seats and others three seats while the Awami League-led grand alliance won 288 seats in the 11th parliamentary elections.

HOW WAS THE ELECTION?

Voting for the 11th parliamentary election ended peacefully in Dhaka; but was tainted with violence elsewhere across the country and cost the lives of at least a dozen people.

Reports of casualties came in from Cumilla, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangamati, Cox’s Bazar, Bogura, Noakhali, Narsingdi and Gazipur.

Allegations of vote rigging, election clashes, intimidation and irregularities came in from several other constituencies and capital Dhaka city.

Also, the election saw opposition candidates boycotting elections in at least 43 constituencies; 42 of who were JatiyaOikyafront runners.

Four university students remain missing since they were allegedly picked up by plainclothes men in the capital's Farmgate area on Saturday, the day before national election.

Their families yesterday held a press conference at Crime Reporters' Association Bangladesh, demanding safe return of the youths.

The missing are: Abu Khaled Mohammad Jabed, 25, a third year student of Bangla at Asian University; Borhan Uddin, 26, English student at Stamford University; Rezaul Khalek, 24, final year student of Pharmacy at Manarat University; and Syed Maminul Hasan, 27, former student of a Unani Ayurvedic Medical College.

“We are very anxious about their fate, as we have been out of contact with them for two days,” said Jabed's brother-in-law Yeasin Karim at the press conference.

He urged law enforcers to rescue the youths or to produce them before the court if they were detained for any crime.

Some plainclothes men identifying themselves as law enforcers dragged them out of a bus in Farmgate on their way home in Mirpur-1 after shopping at Aziz Super Market, Yeasin said quoting a friend of theirs who was also in the bus but escaped detention.

“We contacted local police stations and other wings of law enforcement agencies but all denied picking Jabed up,” he said.

The families drew attention of national and international human rights organisations to be vocal for their release.

Contacted, Abdul Baten, additional commissioner (detectives) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said they did not detain the youths.

Mufti Mahmud Khan, Rab's Legal and Media wing director also said they did not carry out any drive in Farmgate on that day.