BNP today announced nationwide black flag processions on January 26 and 27 to press home its demands.

"The party will organise the black flag processions in all district towns on January 26 and in metropolitan cities on January 27," said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference held at the party's Nayapaltan office in the capital.

Rizvi said the black flag procession will be held to demand release of all leaders including party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, withdrawal of all fabricated cases, dissolution of parliament, and to protest higher commodity prices.

Rizvi alleged that the current Awami League government has failed to control the spike in prices of essential commodities.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda today said action will be taken after investigation against those who launched an attack on Gono Forum President and Jatiya Oikyafornt key leader Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday.

Terming the incident sad and unexpected, the CEC said, “The incident is a criminal offence and will be investigated as per the law.  We will send this to the election inquiry committee. They will probe it.”

“Dr Kamal Hossain is a senior citizen and a renowned personality. An attack on him is undesirable and unexpected,” he said.

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Motorcade of Dr Kamal attacked

Huda said this at a press briefing at the Election Commission this afternoon.

WHAT DID CEC SAY ON THE RECENT SPATE OF ATTACKS?

The CEC said a letter will be sent to the Home Ministry tomorrow or the day after to ensure no politician is harassed, said KM Nurul Huda.

However, the CEC reiterated that a level-playing field has been ensured and candidates are electioneering peacefully.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ATTACK?

Dr Kamal Hossain’s motorcade was allegedly attacked at the Martyred Intellectuals Mausoleum in Mirpur area of Dhaka yesterday morning.

The motorcade came under the attack when Dr Kamal was coming out of the mausoleum after paying tributes to the martyred intellectuals around 9:45am, Latiful Bari Hamim, a staff of the Oikyafront’s media wing, told The Daily Star.

Driver of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob, who was with Dr Kamal, was injured while the attackers, chanting slogan “Joy Bangla,” vandalised several vehicles of the motorcade, said Hamim.

However, both Dr Kamal and Rob were unhurt, he further said.

Selimuzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Darussalam Police Station, said police rushed to the spot sensing untoward noise but did not find anyone in the area.

Kamal Hossain was accompanied by some top leaders of Jatiya Oikyafront, including: Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury; BNP leader Abdus Salam; Reza Kibria, son of slain former Awami League Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria; and others.

They went to the Martyred Intellectuals Mausoleum on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day yesterday.

Two makeshift election campaign camps of the local BNP candidate in Meherpur have been vandalised.

BNP candidate of Meherpur-2 constituency, Javed Masud Milton blamed ruling Awami League for it, our Kushtia correspondent reports.

He alleged, ruling party activists led by local UP Member Liton Hosen vandalized two of his election camps in Chatian and Bamundi areas.

He claimed, he did not get any help from police or the returning officer of the area to this end.

UP Member Liton has denied his involvement and said he did not know who were behind the attacks.

Shukumar Biswas, officer-in-charge of Gangni Police Station, said that nobody filed any complaint over the incidents.

Jatiya Oikyafront today announced to hold a rally in Dhaka on Monday protesting “vote rigging” in the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018.

Oikyafront leader and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rab came up with the announcement at a press conference at Dr Kamal Hossain’s chamber in Motijheel of Dhaka.

Earlier, Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, held an emergency meeting at his office to work out the alliance’s action programmes to mark the 1st anniversary of the December 30 national polls.

The rally will be held in front of the National Press Club around 2:00pm on the day, Rab said.

Responding to a query, he added, “No permission. Why the permission is needed to hold rally in front of the press club?”

Oikyafront leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna, responding to a query, said vote rigging took place on the night on December 29 and they will hold the protest rally on that day.

“We will go for more two days programme if any barrier comes from any corner,” Manna said at the press conference.

Addressing the press conference, Kamal said they would strengthen their unity to ensure people’s voting rights and to make the country’s elections meaningful.