Jatiya Oikyafront will kick off their campaigns ahead of the December 30 general election through offering prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) in Sylhet tomorrow.

Oikyafront’s key leader also Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain along with several senior leaders of the alliance will reach Sylhet and offered prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA) around 3:00pm, Sayrul Kabir Khan, a staff of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s media wing, told The Daily Star.

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob and Gonoshasthya Kendra trustee Zafarullah Chowdhury and other leaders will accompany Dr Kamal.

After offering prayers, the top leaders will address several roadside rallies on their way to Dhaka calling upon people from all walks of life to cast their votes in favour of the Oikyafront nominated candidates in the December 30 election.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had inaugurated her party’s electioneering after offering prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) in the previous parliamentary polls, but this year Dr Kamal Hossain will do this as Khaleda is now behind bars in connection with two corruption cases.

WHY IS KHALEDA IN JAIL?

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia landed in jail back in February after her conviction in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, where she was handed a five-year jail term.

Later, she was also convicted in Zia Charitable Trust graft case and handed a seven-year term.

In the appeal against her punishment in Zia Orphanage graft, a higher court increased her punishment to 10 years in prison.

11TH JS ELECTION SCHEDULE

The 11th general election will be held on December 30.

As per the polls schedule, the deadline for filing the nomination papers was November 28.

The authorities had fixed December 2 for scrutiny and December 9 the last date for nomination withdrawal. The election campaign has begun December 10.