Cops foil human chain demanding re-election

Police drove protesters away when they formed a human chain before Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka yesterday, rejecting the 11th parliamentary election.

Under the banner of “Votadhikar o Sushasoney Jatiya Oikya” (National Unity for Ensuring Right to Vote and Good Governance), around 40 to 50 activists gathered there, demanding re-election under a non-partisan caretaker government.

They had formed the human chain around 11:00am. Ten minutes later, police personnel rushed in and snatched their banner.

ABM Mostofa Ameen, convener of the platform, said although they arranged a peaceful programme, police foiled it.

After the platform formed a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club yesterday, rejecting the December 30 general polls and demanding re-election under a non-partisan government. Photo: Collected

“We cannot accept such rigging by Awami League that took place during the 11th parliamentary election. We demand a constitutional amendment to restore the caretaker government system for holding a free and fair election immediately,” he said.

Afterwards, the platform held a discussion at its Dhanmondi office, protesting the role of police in foiling the human chain.

“Under the leadership of Bangabandhu, the country's people fought against the Pakistani forces to ensure their political and economic rights. But the Awami League's activities during the 11th general election went beyond the repression of Pakistan in the pre-independence period,” said Dr Abdul Baten, member secretary of the platform, at the discussion.

He said AL deceived the country's people through holding such a farcical election and patriots should come forward to protest it.

“We all should force the government to hold a re-election under a caretaker government,” he added.

With ABM Mostofa Ameen in the chair, the platform leaders Dr Shah Noor, Advocate Ziaur Rahman, Kabir Hossain and Yunus Ali Akhand, among others, spoke on the occasion.