Oikyafront shares worries with diplomats on polls

The major opposition alliance, Jatiya Oikyafront, yesterday briefed foreign diplomats in Dhaka about the election situation in the country, including the arrest of opposition candidates, leaders and activists and their alleged harassment and repression ahead of the 11th parliamentary polls.

During the briefing at a Gulshan hotel, the Oikyafront leaders also showed video footage of different incidents of attack on opposition leaders and activists and alleged that the ruling Awami League was not allowing the opposition to campaign freely, sources present in the meeting said.

The Oikyafront leaders also gave the diplomats the English versions of the electoral manifestoes of the Oikyafront and BNP. Ganoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain, who led the Oikyafront team, said they briefed the diplomats about the ongoing arrests of opposition leaders and activists.

“The reports by the foreign missions have also unveiled the incidents. They also did not disagree with us,” he told journalists after the briefing in the afternoon. Kamal said the diplomats evinced interest in talking to the persons concerned over the situation.

Referring to the attack on him, the Oikyafront leader told the diplomats that he could not realize that he would be attacked on Martyred Intellectuals Day. He also expressed his resentment against the Chief Election Commissioner and claimed that there was no level playing field for the election yet.

Ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives from 35 countries and development partners including the USA, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Turkey, China, Japan, Canada, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and European Union were present at the two-and-a-half-hour-long briefing that began at 2.30 pm. BNP leaders Sabihuddin Ahmed, Masud Ahmed Talukder, Tabith Awal and Jeba Amin Khan and Ganoforum leader Subrata Chowdhury were among those present at the meeting.

Earlier talking to the media, US ambassador Earl Robert Miller observed that all sides should refrain from acts of violence to maintain the electoral process.

“Holding a violence-free election is the responsibility of the Election Commission and it will have to take necessary measures in this regard,” he added.

Asked about the US stance over the December 30 parliamentary polls, he said the stance was the same as he had stated after a meeting with BNP leaders on Tuesday. He had stated that the US wanted Bangladesh to hold a free, fair, participatory and peaceful election.

The US ambassador had further said that they were worried over the reports of violence ahead of the election and called upon all to shun violence.

On the briefing, BNP’s special affairs secretary Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon told reporters that it was not a formal meeting but rather they briefed the diplomats and they did not make any observation.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said they briefed the diplomats over the arrest of opposition leaders and activists and their harassment.

“Our foreign friends had advised us to take part in the election and we did it. They also assured us that a congenial atmosphere will be created, but it is still not done. We have informed them about the situation,” he added. Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said they informed the diplomats that if the Army was to be deployed from December 20 (today), the ongoing violence centring the election can be checked.

 In a related development, Kamal warned at a discussion meeting at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium that the consequences would be severe if the forthcoming election was not held in a free and fair manner.

He said if the ruling party wanted all the 300 constituencies in the name of so called election, they (the opposition) were ready to offer them all the seats without polling.

Bangladesh Human Rights Federation (BHRF) organized the meeting to mark the 70th World Human Rights. It was chaired by BHRF chairman DR Mohammed Shajahan.

Oikyafront shares worries with diplomats on polls

The major opposition alliance, Jatiya Oikyafront, yesterday briefed foreign diplomats in Dhaka about the election situation in the country, including the arrest of opposition candidates, leaders and activists and their alleged harassment and repression ahead of the 11th parliamentary polls. During the briefing at a Gulshan hotel, the Oikyafront leaders also showed video footage of different incidents of attack on opposition leaders and activists and alleged that the ruling Awami League was not allowing the opposition to campaign freely, sources present in the meeting said. The Oikyafront leaders also gave the diplomats the English versions of the electoral manifestoes of the Oikyafront and BNP. Ganoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain, who led the Oikyafront team, said they briefed the diplomats about the ongoing arrests of opposition leaders and activists. The reports by the foreign missions have also unveiled the incidents. They also did not disagree with us, he told journalists after the briefing in the afternoon. Kamal said the diplomats evinced interest in talking to the persons concerned over the situation. Referring to the attack on him, the Oikyafront leader told the diplomats that he could not realize that he would be attacked on Martyred Intellectuals Day. He also expressed his resentment against the Chief Election Commissioner and claimed that there was no level playing field for the election yet. Ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives from 35 countries and development partners including the USA, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Turkey, China, Japan, Canada, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and European Union were present at the two-and-a-half-hour-long briefing that began at 2.30 pm. BNP leaders Sabihuddin Ahmed, Masud Ahmed Talukder, Tabith Awal and Jeba Amin Khan and Ganoforum leader Subrata Chowdhury were among those present at the meeting. Earlier talking to the media, US ambassador Earl Robert Miller observed that all sides should refrain from acts of violence to maintain the electoral process. Holding a violence-free election is the responsibility of the Election Commission and it will have to take necessary measures in this regard, he added. Asked about the US stance over the December 30 parliamentary polls, he said the stance was the same as he had stated after a meeting with BNP leaders on Tuesday. He had stated that the US wanted Bangladesh to hold a free, fair, participatory and peaceful election. The US ambassador had further said that they were worried over the reports of violence ahead of the election and called upon all to shun violence. On the briefing, BNPs special affairs secretary Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon told reporters that it was not a formal meeting but rather they briefed the diplomats and they did not make any observation. BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said they briefed the diplomats over the arrest of opposition leaders and activists and their harassment. Our foreign friends had advised us to take part in the election and we did it. They also assured us that a congenial atmosphere will be created, but it is still not done. We have informed them about the situation, he added. Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said they informed the diplomats that if the Army was to be deployed from December 20 (today), the ongoing violence centring the election can be checked. In a related development, Kamal warned at a discussion meeting at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium that the consequences would be severe if the forthcoming election was not held in a free and fair manner. He said if the ruling party wanted all the 300 constituencies in the name of so called election, they (the opposition) were ready to offer them all the seats without polling. Bangladesh Human Rights Federation (BHRF) organized the meeting to mark the 70th World Human Rights. It was chaired by BHRF chairman DR Mohammed Shajahan.