Jatiya Oikyafront leaders want to meet President Abdul Hamid and seek his intervention to improve the current political situation in the run-up to the December 30 polls.
On Thursday, the party sent a letter in this regard to the Bangabhaban which sought an appointment with the president for the leaders of Oikyafront -- alliance of the BNP and several other opposition parties -- on December 17, alliance sources said.
A 10-member delegation, led by Oikyafront's top leader Dr Kamal Hossain, also the president of Gonoforum, will meet the president if they get the appointment, the sources added.
"We will draw his [president] attention to the continued attacks on opposition candidates and activists during electioneering and the mass arrest of opposition activists. We will seek his intervention to improve the situation," Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the Oikyafront, told The Daily Star yesterday.
The BNP and the Jatiya Oikyafront have been accusing the government of using law enforcement agencies to arrest and harass their nominees, leaders and activists across the country.
Since the announcement of the election schedule, the BNP has kept lodging complaints with the Election Commission (EC) seeking its action to stop the arrests and harassment.
But according to opposition leaders, this has not helped improve the situation.
Against this backdrop, the Oikyafront leaders have decided to meet the president, who they think can play a significant role in advising the EC to take necessary measures to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, party leaders said referring to section 5 (2) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
The section 5 (2) of the RPO says: "All executive authorities of the government shall assist the commission in the performance of its functions, and for this purpose the president may, after consultation with the commission, issue such directions as he may consider necessary."
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Alleging mass discrimination to push it out of election, major political opposition Jatiya Oikyafront says it is now depending on the vote of the people.
“It's too apparent, the arrangement is complete to oust Oikyafront from the election,” Dr Kamal Hossain, key leader of the alliance, said in a press statement.
He alleged that the government had made “the arrangement” by pulling strings of the administration, judiciary, law enforcers, goons and the Election Commission.
“At this point, the people's vote is our hope. Voters never made a mistake in the past and they never will,” Kamal said.
He hoped that people would unite and overcome all challenges to appear for voting at the centres during the election on Sunday.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over Kamal's safety, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday offered to provide security for him.
Kamal, also the convener of Jatiya Oikyafront, however said he will seek police security only if he feels the need for it.
Some DMP mid rank officials went to Kamal's chamber in Dhaka's Motijheel to discuss “security issues” around 12:10pm yesterday.
Prior to the meeting, several police teams took position in front of the chamber.
The meeting took place a day after a Jatiya Oikyafront delegation, led by Kamal, walked out of a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda following a heated exchange over the role of police during electioneering.
After meeting with the DMP, Kamal told reporters that the police officials said they would take security measures for him at both his house and chamber if needed.
“They even said they would provide transport security,” Kamal said.
Even though the DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia was supposed to meet Kamal, he could not go due to some other commitment and sent his apologies, he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Division Anwar Hossain claimed that Kamal has expressed satisfaction over the security measures taken for him by law enforcers.
“We're here as part of our regular duty. We had an open discussion and wanted to know if he [Kamal] has any observations regarding his security and he said he'll inform us over phone if he notices anything,” Anwar said.
Responding to a question on whether the alliance would stay in the election, Kamal said, “We have to hold on to this. So that they [rivals] cannot say that we moved away. This is our right. Why should we move away? If they make it impossible at the end of the day, then people will see.”
He also said, “The government's actions are casting doubt regarding the credibility and fairness of the polls.”
Meanwhile Bangladesh Police Service Association protested a comment about police made by Kamal during Tuesday's meeting with the CEC.
“His comment was motivated, objectionable and inconsiderate,” they said in a statement.
Kamal, at the meeting, had said some police officials were “acting like beasts".
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The families of two teenagers killed in Mohammadpur during a clash of Awami League factions ahead of the general election have been robbed of justice.
The family members of one of the victims said police submitted the final report in the case without talking to them. The report mentioned no clash even though it was widely covered by the media at that time. It termed the incident an “accident”.
Councillor Tarequzzaman Rajib of ward-33 also threatened the father of one of the victims not to file a murder case, they said.
A case was filed after the November 10, 2018, incident and the father of one of the teens was made the plaintiff.
The father maintains he did not file the case and that the signature on the case document could not be his since he is illiterate. He said Councillor Rajib put a gun to his head and told him to do as he said after the incident.
The families opened up to this paper only after Rajib was arrested this week.
On the morning of November 10, 2018, a procession of vehicles, largely comprised of flatbeds, with supporters of AL leader Sadek Khan was going towards the AL Dhanmondi office to buy nomination paper for Sadek’s candidacy in the polls.
Mohammad Sujon, 19, and Arif Hossain, 14, were on one of the pickup trucks when the procession was attacked allegedly by the men of rival AL leader and then lawmaker Jahangir Kabir Nanak.
During the melee Sujon and Arif fell off the vehicle and the driver, trying to avoid the brick chunks being hurled at the pickup, reversed and ran the two over, according to case documents, news reports, witness accounts, and statements of the families.
Sujan and Arif died in hospital.
Arif’s father Faruk Hossain was taken to a community centre in Mohammadpur when he was on his way to the hospital. He was confined there for 12 hours by Rajib’s men, Faruk told The Daily Star.
Late at night, Rajib, reportedly Nanak’s ally, at the community centre told Faruk to go to the police station to talk about getting the body of his son.
Faruk then went to the police station, gave his details, and told the officials there what he knew about the incident. He had no idea that police were filing a case making him the plaintiff. The police officials there asked him to identify the body at the Suhrawardy hospital, Faruk said.
On his way to the hospital from the police station, two men stopped him near Shia Masjid and took him to Rajib’s home.
Rajib told him at gunpoint to do as he said regarding the matter, Faruk told The Daily Star.
“You wouldn’t get anything if you file a murder case. Instead, you will be harassed and face the same consequences as your son. You are from Lalmonhon of Bhola and so am I. Do what I say. You will get a good compensation,” Faruk quoted Rajib as saying.
Faruk eventually identified his son’s body the next day.
Faruk said, “After the incident, I thought it was police who were the plaintiff in the case.
“This is my NID, sir. See, I can’t sign,” Faruk showed his NID to this correspondent which had his thumb print.
Faruk said not a single police officer talked to him about the investigation since then.
Sujon’s uncle Md Riaz told The Daily Star last night that the police never talked to them either.
He said councillor Rajib had promised them compensation and jobs for family members but he never delivered.
Sujon’s family did not know that the final report was submitted. They heard it first from The Daily Star correspondent.
After “investigating” the case for 11 months, police submitted the final report terming the incident an “accident”.
Police had arrested convener of Jubo League’s Adabar Thana unit Arifur Rahman Tuhin in connection with leading the attack but in the final report police said they found no evidence of Tuhin’s involvement.
Rajib, on behalf of then MP Nanak, had given Arif’s family Tk 30,000 and Sujon’s family Tk 25,000 as burial cost.
After the incident, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the prime minister directed the authorities concerned to submit a probe report over the incident within two days.
Whoever is found involved would be given exemplary punishment, he had said, adding that the prime minister wanted to know “who destroyed the peaceful election environment”.
Sub-Inspector Mukul Ranjan of Mohammadpur police station, investigation officer (IO) of the case, said they submitted the final report of the case in the first week of this month as they could not find any evidence or witnesses.
Police also could not identify the pickup truck and its driver.
In the final report, police said the two factions of the ruling party came “face to face” near Mohammadi Homes Ltd on November 10 when the unidentified driver reversed in a hurry and could not see what was behind him. This led to the two getting run over.
The SI in his investigation found no evidence of the clash. He only said the two faction came “face to face”. The media, however, had extensive coverage of the incident.
They reported that the attackers, armed with hammers, sharp weapons and brick chunks, swooped on the procession of vehicles.
The IO said said Faruk did not know what had actually happened and had “filed the case” based on hearsay.
Taking to this newspaper, the SI claimed that he did not find anything in CCTV footage and no local wanted to be a witness.
Asked why the IO never contacted Faruk, the IO first claimed that he had contacted him but later said they could not reach him.
The IO claimed that Faruk had indeed filed the case.
At one stage of the conversation with this correspondent, the IO said he had written the final report with direction from a superior officer of Tejgaon Division Police.
Anisur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Tejgaon division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star that he had no knowledge about the development of the case as he joined the division only a few months ago.
“I will have to see the documents,” he added.
In November last year, Nanak said he had nothing to do with the attack on the procession.
Sadek had said that he did not want to blame anyone and demanded a proper investigation.
The Daily Star could not reach Nanak and Sadek for comments over the last few days.
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Dr Kamal Hossain today called upon all to take to the streets to bring down the government instead of just holding indoor meetings.
“No more indoor meetings. We will unite and take to the streets to keep the movement going,” said Dr Kamal Hossain, Jatiya Oikyafront convener, while speaking at a meeting demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release on the occasion of the second anniversary of her imprisonment.
The meeting was organised by Oikyafront at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Khaleda was sent to jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8, 2018.
He said they are tolerating a farce in the name of election. “Unelected people usurped power and are ruling the country. People will not accept that,” said Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum.
“A government should be formed through a free and fair election. A party that secures majority [votes] in a real election should form the government. Raising demands of resignation are not enough. Rather the government should be brought down. People who are owners of the country should act as true owners,” Dr Kamal said.
The Jatiya Oikyafront top leader said that if people are deprived of freedom they become victims of corruption and looting. “None can give autocracy an institutional shape. People who had tried faced dire consequences,” he added.
He said that celebrating 50 years of independence, while depriving people of their rights, is nothing but a farce.
Speaking about Khaleda Zia, Dr Kamal Hossain said, “The term political prisoner sounds strange 48 years after independence. It is unimaginable that demand of release of Khaleda Zia need to be placed and meetings are held for that.”
BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan urged all to unite and wage a movement to oust the government.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rab at the programme cautioned the government that if they want to leave power peacefully, they have to release Khaleda Zia.
Oikyafront leader and Gonoshasthaya Kendra trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury opined that it would not be wise to take part in the any elections without the release of Khaleda Zia.
Among others, Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gonoforum executive president Subrata Chowdhury and Bikalpadhara president Nurul Amin also spoke at the programme.
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Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain today said those making their own fortunes depriving people of their ownership of the country and voting rights using the name and portraits of Bangabandhu are committing the 'most grievous crime'.
"They (AL) are using the name and portraits of Bangabandhu, but indulging in acts contrary to his ideals. I think it's the most grievous crime to work against Bangabandhu's ideal and dreams using his name," he said.
Speaking at a discussion, Dr Kamal further said, "Instead of exercising people's power in protecting their interests, they (AL) are making their own gains showing his photos and using his name. It's completely contrary to Bangabandhu's dreams. So, we should make people understand what Bangabandhu's real dreams were. Then, they'll put up a resistance against the abuse."
Gonoforum arranged the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club on the occasion of National Mourning day commemorating the 44th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Dr Kamal, a close associate of Bangabandhu, said the Father of the Nation had struggled throughout his life for establishing pure democracy and making people owners of the country.
"If anyone thinks the country's power and ownership belong to an individual and a party it will be tantamount to disrespecting Bangabandhu and defying his instruction. Because, he made people owners of the country through the constitution signed by him," the Gonoforum chief said.
He said Bangabandhu even could not imagine an autocratic regime would rule Bangladesh. "Those who want to deprive people of their ownership of the country deviating from Bangabandhu's dreams are bound to fail."
Dr Kamal said those who are now exercising power, even at the grassroots level, are not elected with people's votes. "They're making their own fortunes instead of protecting people's interests. They're depriving people of their rights and power."
Referring to the December-30 national election, he said people were deprived of their voting right. An election system has been established which is completely opposite to a free and fair election.
Dr Kamal said Bangabandhu clearly defined in the constitution that democracy means a system where people at all levels will be the owners of the country, and all the representatives will be elected through people's votes in a credible election. "But his instruction has been ignored completely."
The Gonoforum president said those usurped power and indulging in plundering abusing power are not owners of the country. "People's ownership of the country will be ensured if they can freely exercise their voting rights through a fair and credible election."
He recalled that late autocratic ruler HM Ershad had tried to stay in power for a longer time, but he was ousted through a united and fierce movement.
The Gonoforum chief urged people to get united to realise their rights, restore their ownership of the country and materialise the dreams of Bangabandhu.
Gonoforum executive president Prof Abu Sayeed, general secretary Reza Kibria, presidium members Mokabbir Khan, MP, Mohsin Rashid and joint general secretaries Ameen Ahmed Afsary and Mostak Ahmed, among others, spoke at the programme.
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Gonoforum President and Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain was not satisfied with the election atmosphere as presence of voters was thin at polling centres today.
He came up with the comment after casting vote at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the city’s Bailey Road area around 10:15am.
When asked about his impression of the election environment, he responded that about 100 votes were cast till 10am. But there are about 2,600 voters in the centre, he added.
He also alleged that people have no confidence in the voting system. Or, there is another reason for the low voter turnout, he added.
It is taking much time to cast vote, he alleged.
About the people’s verdict in the elections, he replied that it will be known after the polls results.
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