Dec 30 polls protest

Oikyafront human chain today

The opposition alliance, Jatiya Oikyafront, in which the BNP is a major partner, will organise a human chain wearing black badges in front of the Jatiya Press Club today, protesting "vote decoity" during the December 30 parliamentary elections and demanding fresh polls.

The human chain will begin at 3:00pm and continue till 4:00pm, said a press release issued by the Oikyafront yesterday (Tuesday).

Top leaders of the five-party alliance, including Ganoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain, BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, JSD president ASM Abdur Rab, Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, among others, will be present at the programme, according to sources.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir won’t be able to join the programme as he left for Singapore on Monday for treatment.

Talking to The Independent, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, said it would be a silent protest against the "engineered elections" with the demand to hold fresh polls.

"We want to carry out a protest programme in a democratic manner. Since we are not allowed to hold rallies and bring out processions, we will organise the human chain as a silent protest against vote decoity," he said.

The Oikyafront leader mentioned that they would also hold a mass hearing of Oikyafront candidates on February 24 regarding anomalies and irregularities in the December 30 elections.  The Oikyafront earlier wanted to hold a national

dialogue on February 6, later it decided to organise a human chain instead on the same day.

BNP secretary general and Oikyafront, spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, announced the programme after a meeting of the Oikyafront steering committee on January 31.

 The Oikyafront had rejected the poll results alleging “vote engineering” and decided that its winning candidates would not take oath as MPs. The Oikyafront leaders also refrained from joining Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s greetings-exchange meeting over tea on February 2.

 The AL-led Grand Alliance swept the 11th parliamentary election with 289 seats, out of 300, and formed the government. The BNP and its partner Ganaforum got only eight seats and rejected the poll results, alleging “vote engineering.”

Dec 30 polls protest

Oikyafront human chain today

The opposition alliance, Jatiya Oikyafront, in which the BNP is a major partner, will organise a human chain wearing black badges in front of the Jatiya Press Club today, protesting vote decoity during the December 30 parliamentary elections and demanding fresh polls. The human chain will begin at 3:00pm and continue till 4:00pm, said a press release issued by the Oikyafront yesterday (Tuesday). Top leaders of the five-party alliance, including Ganoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain, BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, JSD president ASM Abdur Rab, Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, among others, will be present at the programme, according to sources. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir wont be able to join the programme as he left for Singapore on Monday for treatment. Talking to The Independent, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, said it would be a silent protest against the engineered elections with the demand to hold fresh polls. We want to carry out a protest programme in a democratic manner. Since we are not allowed to hold rallies and bring out processions, we will organise the human chain as a silent protest against vote decoity, he said. The Oikyafront leader mentioned that they would also hold a mass hearing of Oikyafront candidates on February 24 regarding anomalies and irregularities in the December 30 elections. The Oikyafront earlier wanted to hold a national dialogue on February 6, later it decided to organise a human chain instead on the same day. BNP secretary general and Oikyafront, spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, announced the programme after a meeting of the Oikyafront steering committee on January 31. The Oikyafront had rejected the poll results alleging vote engineering and decided that its winning candidates would not take oath as MPs. The Oikyafront leaders also refrained from joining Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas greetings-exchange meeting over tea on February 2. The AL-led Grand Alliance swept the 11th parliamentary election with 289 seats, out of 300, and formed the government. The BNP and its partner Ganaforum got only eight seats and rejected the poll results, alleging vote engineering.