Dr Kamal Hossain, a key leader of the Jatiya Oikyafront, yesterday said he would not participate in the upcoming parliamentary election, ending all speculations over his joining the polls.

“I am 80. I am working for my country and party now,” he told The Daily Star.

The Gonoforum president said election was not the only way to serve the nation and any party. He would take part in making different policies and decisions of his party, he added.

On October 13, the BNP and several other political parties, including the Gonoforum, formally launched the Jatiya Oikyafront for what they said was holding the 11th general election in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

Mahmudur Rahman Manna submitted nomination form in Bogra on November 28, 2018. Photo: Star

Talking to this correspondent yesterday, Subrata Chowdhury, executive president of the Gonoforum, mentioned that Dr Kamal had earlier said he “forged the alliance to revive democracy in the country, not to go to power”.

Subrata also said he submitted his nomination papers to the returning officer for contesting the December 30 election for Dhaka-6.

BNP today blamed the ruling quarter for carrying out propaganda against BNP and the party chief Khaleda Zia through social media ahead of the 11th parliamentary election scheduled for December 30.

“Social media like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been flooded with false, fabricated and politically motivated campaign to thwart our movement for Khaleda’s release from jail. The government has already announced an ugly cyber war against the party with public money,” BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed said.

He was addressing a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka this afternoon.

“They (AL) has been spreading dangerous propaganda of various spiteful superimposed photos and fake audios and videos on the party on social media,” said Rizvi, also the spokesperson of BNP.

He said the ruling quarter is trying to divert people’s attention to different directions from their 10 years of indulgence in all-out corruption, killing, abduction, enforce disappearance and misdeeds by spreading the falsehood through the social media.

“The ruling Awami League men are using at least 50 online portals like Bangla Insider, Bangla News Post, Amader Rajniti, News for All, Chobir Moto Desh, Bangladeshi Viral Videos, Chairman Sab, Guerrilla-71, Cyber Force-71, Bangabandhu Cyber Force, Bangabandhu Digital Brigade, Aam Janata, Bhorer Pataa and Gujobe Kan Diben Na, in conducting the offensive campaign,” Rizvi said.

They are engaged in spreading out propaganda spending thousands of dollars from different fake Facebook IDs, he alleged.

He also warned that people would pay a befitting reply to Awami League for such false campaign through the ballot in the upcoming general election.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has advised Bangladesh's ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan not to contest the upcoming 11th parliamentary election and to give full attention to cricket.

She asked Shakib to pay more attention to the matches as the cricket world cup will be held next year, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader quoted Sheikh Hasina as saying.  

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11th JS polls: AL starts sale of nomination papers

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, was talking to reporters at AL party office at Dhanmondi today, Bangladesh daily Prothom Alo reports.  

WILL MASHRAFE RUN THE POLLS? 

However, popular cricketer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will collect nomination form from the AL office today, the minister confirmed.

Md Abu Naser, senior information officer of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, yesterday said Mashrafe will contest the 11th parliamentary elections to be held on December 23 with Awami League ticket.

Although the party spokesman had informed Shakib Al Hasan's bid for elections, the all-rounder backtracked on his decision.

He informed Daily Prothom Alo late last night that he would not be buying nomination paper for the upcoming election.

WHEN DID THE SALE OF NOMINATION PAPERS START?

On Friday, the ruling Awami League started selling the party’s nomination papers for the 11th general election.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader inaugurated the sale of nomination forms at AL president’s Dhanmondi political office with the purchase of a nomination paper on behalf of the party President Sheikh Hasina.