Jatiya Oikyafront will brief media this evening on overall situation of today’s general election.

The press conference will be held at his Paltan office after 8:00pm today, the party sources said.

Earlier at a press briefing around 2:30pm, Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain said he was concerned over the election atmosphere.

The voting in the 11th parliamentary election ended in all the 300 constituencies across the country at 4:00pm.

Oikyafront's pledges in its election manifesto, to continue the trial for war criminals and end corruption, are “nothing but a joke”, Awami League joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference at the AL president's Dhanmondi political office, Rahman also said Oikyafront has paved the way for more than 23 successors of war criminals to participate in the election under the symbol of “sheaf of paddy”.

“So, when they say they'll continue the trial of war criminals, it's not only a matter of joke but also an inconceivable matter,” he said.

The AL leader said, “Who has given shelter to war criminals and nominated them? How will they stand against these war criminals?”

He also claimed that Oikyafront is misleading the nation with its confusing manifesto.

Rahman went on to say, “Dr Kamal has proven that they're making a plan to foil the election. I would like to let them know that the election will be held on December 30 at any cost.”

About the pre-election violence, Abdur Rahman said, “Our party men were not engaged in attacking the opponents and vandalising anyone's campaign office.”

There were no polling agents of main opposition parties anywhere throughout Dhaka. The Daily Star went about several constituencies in the capital, but could only find polling agents of Awami League everywhere wearing the badge of the ‘boat’.

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The Daily Star visited Kakoli High School, Dhaka City College, Teachers’ Training College, Dhaka College, University Laboratory School and College, Dhanmondi Government Boys School and College, New Model School and College voting centres.

While plenty of ‘boat’ supporters were seen displaying badges, only the centre at Dhaka City College, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote, had one or two polling agents of ‘Tiger’ and ‘hand fan’ there.

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The Daily Star visited Mohammadpur Government Primary School, Mohammadpur Girls High School, Rayerbazar Community Centre, Shyamoli Ideal Technical Institue, and Primrose Kindergarden polling stations in the constituency which is witnessing electronic voting for the first time.

There too, no opposition polling agents could be seen anywhere. However, ruling party supporters and polling agents were found roaming around aplenty.

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The Daily Star visited Ispahani School, Viquarunnisa Noon School, and Tejgaon Govt Girls High School voting centres. No polling agents other than those from the ruling Awami League could be seen there in the morning.

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The Daily Star visited five polling centres including Rashid Ideal High School, Al Quran Academy, and Bangabndhu College to find only one polling agent of the ‘sheaf of paddy’ who did not seem very convincing.

Shafiqur Rahman, who claims to have been driven out of Bangabandhu College, alleged that false BNP polling agents were filled in Shahidbagh Girls School. "I was supposed to provide polling agents there. But this morning, it was already filled."

A total of 47 opposition candidates have boycotted the election so far citing vote rigging and ballot stuffing. 

Among them, 22 Jamaat candidates, who were contesting the polls under the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, said they boycotted the election due to “unfair voting atmosphere”.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders will not attend the prime minister's tea party today.

In a letter sent to the Gono Bhaban, the BNP-led alliance yesterday said its leaders will not attend the party.

A three-member delegation of the alliance handed the letter to an employee of the Gono Bhaban, Jahangir Alam Mintu, media coordinator of the alliance, told The Daily Star.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is hosting the event to exchange greetings with leaders of 75 political parties and alliances.

The PM had held dialogue with leaders of these parties before the election.

Distribution of the invitation letters began on January 26.

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of eight left-leaning parties, will also not attend the party.

Partners of the AL-led grand alliance, Jatiya Party, Bikalpa Dhara-led Juktafront, Islami Oikya Jote, Khelafat Andolan, and Khelafat Majlish are among the parties expected to attend the event.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders took the decision at a meeting on Thursday.

In its letter, the Oikyafront said the government was formed through a farcical election on December 30.

It also mentioned that many leaders and activists of the Oikyafront were behind the bars and it was not possible for the leaders to attend the tea Party in the given circumstance.

Similarly, LDA leader Mujahidul Islam Selim said, “After holding a farcical election, the government is now organising a tea party. We will not go there to legitimise the election.”

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the BNP's decision not to join the tea party exposed the party's age old negative attitude, reports UNB.

Speaking at a press conference at Awami League president's Dhanmondi office, he said the Jatiya Oikyafront leaders could openly discuss various political issues by joining the programme.

"Many things can be discussed while taking tea as politicians are used to talk about politics. So, the BNP's representatives could talk to the prime Minister at the tea party. They could openly tell her if they have anything to say," Quader said.