The leaders of Jatiya Oikya Front brought out a colorful procession from the office of the Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) in the city marking the 48th Victory Day.
Thousands of leaders and activists of the alliance thronged BNP's Naya Paltan central office and its adjacent areas in small processions since morning and started their procession at about 11.30 am. They paraded the main roads leading to Shantinagar Square in the city where the processionists dispersed.
The rally inaugurated by Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of BNP. Central leaders and activists of the Jatiya Oikya Front, joined the colorful procession carrying the national flags, placards, banners and portraits of BNP top leaders late President Ziaur Rahman , BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Vice Chairman Tareque Rahman. The rally moved towards Shantinagr from Nayapaltan amid tight security.
Although the rally was scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm, it started around 11:30 am following a request made by the police.Jatiya Oikya Front leaders Subrata Chowdhury, who is also a candidate from Dhaka - 6 seat, Nagarik Oikya Convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dhaka - 14 seat BNP candidate Abdus Salam, Dhaka - 1 seat candidate Abu Ashraf Khandker, BNP Vice Chairman Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain among others spoke in the rally.
The rally turned into an 'election campaign' as the supporters of different Oikya Front candidates carried their posters, banners, portraits and the election symbol 'Sheaf of Paddy'.They also chanted slogans in favour of their respective candidates.
After parading different roads through Bijoynagar, Kakrail and Shantinagar, the procession eroded peacefully at Nayaplatan around 12:10pm.In a brief speech before start of the rally, Fakhrul said the people are worried about the future of democracy as the government is 'shamelessly repressing' the opposition candidates and their supporters across the country.
"The upcoming national election is very important for the people as it'll determine whether democracy and freedom of speech will remain in the country or not. It'll also determine whether our chairperson Khaleda Zia will be freed or not," he said.Fakhrul Islam bitterly criticized the Election Commission which, he said the has failed to discharge its duty neutrally to hold a credible election.
The leaders at the rally said that they never witnessed such a national election. The law enforcing agencymen have resorted to unprecedent arrest of the opposition candidates and its leaders and workers and implicating them in false cases. They're also trying to keep our candidates away from the election race," they alleged.Referring to Saturday's attack on BNP's Dhaka-8 seat candidate Mirza Abbas, Abdus Salam said the Election Commission is silent even after such an incident.
Besides, the leaders said, Jatiya Oikya Front candidate for Noakhali-1 Mahbubuddin Khokon was shot by police and injured during an election campaign. Mmost other candidates cannot carry out electioneering due to obstruction and attacks by their opponents and members of law enforcing agencies.The leaders of the Front urged the government to stop the arrest of their party leaders and activists and create an election atmosphere in the country.
The rally was attended among others by BNP leader Emran Saleh Prince, Ashrafuddin Ahmed Uzzal, Abdus Salam Azad, Munier Hossain, Meer Newaz Ali Newaz, Harunur Rashid, Arpana Roy, Anwar Hossain, Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat, Sadeque Ahmed Khan, Shah Nesarul Hoque, Helal Khan, Sultana Ahmed, Helen Zareen Khan, Debashish Roy Madhu, Pradip Kumar Sarker, Sayeed Ahmed.
Subrata Chowdhury said the ruling party has continued its repressive acts to retain power by snatching people's voting right.He said the government has long been forcing the opposition candidates to quit the election race by creating a suffocating situation by utilising law enforcers.
The Gano Forum leader urged the voters to go to polling stations on December 30 and ensure the victory of the Oikya Front by casting their votes for the 'Sheaf of Paddy'.Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the government has become crazy as the Jatiya Oikya Front joined the election. "We've taken a decision that we won't give the government any scope to score in an empty field."
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