Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today thanked Dr Kamal Hossain for realising the "mistake" that Jatiya Oikyafront had made by incorporating Jamaat-e-Islami in the recent 11th parliamentary election.

"I would like to thank Dr Kamal Hossain for realising their political mistake," Minister Hasan said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal yesterday said it was a mistake on the part of his party Gonoforum to have joined the December 30 polls with Jamaat leaders contesting under the alliance banner.

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Taking Jamaat men along to polls a mistake

Hasan Mahmud further said that the JOF will make another mistake if their elected candidates do not take the oath to join the 11th Parliament.

"I hope they will realise it and join the parliament by taking the oath of office," said the minister.

"A party is trying to drag the country backwards. I think no conspiracy against the country will work," he said.

Responding to a question about the recently enacted Digital Security Act, he said that the government will work on it so that no panic remains among the journalists about the act.

"I always welcome all types of criticism. When I was the Environment Minister, English daily The Daily Star published several reports criticising the ministry, even they published cartoons. But, we gave them an environment award. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) was also awarded although they had criticised the ministry," said the minister.

Mentioning that criticism speeds up anyone's journey, the minister said, "But, blind and one-sided criticism is not useful. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has introduced the culture of welcoming any criticism."

"This time, Awami League has pledged that the country's villages will be turned into cities. Coordinated efforts are required to move the country forward. Mass media also play a vital role in this effort," said Hasan Mahmud.

He also said that a huge revolution has been made not only in the country's online media but also in print, electronic and social media.

"Around 8 crore people are using social media," he mentioned.

BNP candidate for Laxmipur-3 constituency Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee today said that he would welcome his party if it takes decision to quit the December 30 national election race.

“I will welcome if the election coordination committee of my party quits the polls as there is no atmosphere for the election in the country,” Anee, also publicity affairs secretary of BNP, told The Daily Star this evening.

He said the ruling party leaders and activists and the members of law enforcement agencies are engaged in carrying out terrorist activities in his electoral area.

“I could not carry out electioneering in my area. Under this situation, I informed my party that I would welcome its decision if it quits the polls,” the BNP leader said.

On Monday, Anee came under attack in Shantirhat area of Laxmipur upazila that left 30 of his followers including three journalists injured, the BNP leader alleged.

“My party men are being attacked. Even their residences are also being vandalised. The returning officer is not picking up my phone call,” he said.

The congenial atmosphere is totally absent in the area for holding the election in a free, fair and credible manner, the BNP leader said.

Anee is contesting the polls against Awami League candidate AKM Shajahan Kamal and Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Md Ibrahim.

Ruling 14-party alliance today alleged that opposition BNP and its alliance Jatiya Oikyafront are trying to make army and December 30 elections “questionable”.

“Army is deployed as per the demands of BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront. Now they are trying to make the army questionable,” 14-party alliance leader Dilip Barua told reporters after handing over a letter to the EC secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed.

Dilip Barua led a delegation that protested attack on Awami League activists and sought EC's steps on stopping the conspiracy of BNP and Oikyafront.   

“They [BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront] are trying to make December 30 election dubious by raising one after another false allegations” Dilip also said.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain today said no development is meaningful if people's right is not established in the country.

Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum, a component of Oikyafront, said this at a press briefing held at the alliance’s Purana Paltan office in Dhaka this afternoon.

However, he in a press statement expressed hope that if the government and the Election Commission hatch any blueprint for the national election, then people of the country will foil it.

Calling upon the countrymen to go to the polling stations and cast votes, Dr Kamal said, “Through casting votes to your desired candidates, ensure your (people) ownership of the country and restore its democracy”.

“The EC has to take full responsibility if it fails to hold a free, fair and credible election on December 30 and the countrymen will compel it to answer for its failure,” he said in the statement.

“The EC must ensure a peaceful atmosphere for holding a free and fair election,” the Oikyafront key leader said.

About the role of law enforcers ahead of the election, he said, “Their behaviour is not acceptable”.

He alleged that police along with the ruling party men have been putting bar on the opposition candidates during their electioneering.