Jatiya Oikyafront leaders have taken preparations to bring people from neighbouring districts today to their rally in Rajshahi, amid widespread arrests and the ongoing transport strike in Natore.

Police had twice denied permission for the rally before finally announcing on Wednesday night that the event could be held at Madrasa Maidan in the city on 12 conditions.

The Oikyafront could have taken better preparation for the rally if police had not delayed the permission until the last moment, its Rajshahi coordinator Mizanur Rahman Minu told a press conference yesterday.

Several BNP leaders in the region told The Daily Star that they had to stay away from home fearing arrests.

Police raided houses of many BNP leaders and threatened their family members of arrests if they joined the rally, Minu added.

Zahidul Islam Jewel, joint convenor of Bagha upazila Jubo Dal, said, “My home was raided on Thursday night. I can't go home even at night.”

Police yesterday arrested 14 BNP-Jamaat men in Rajshahi and Natore, and raided many more houses of BNP leaders and activists in Naogaon and Chapainawabganj.

The rally would be addressed by Dr Kamal Hossain, Andalib Partha, Retd Col Oli Ahmed among others.

The 12 conditions slapped include not using multimedia projectors at all and not putting loudspeakers anywhere but the venue although the devices are widely used during ruling party rallies.

The participants are also not allowed to carry banners and festoons that are glued to sticks. The organisers were asked to hold the event between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. The activists cannot gather in or around the city before or after the rally.

They are also asked not to deliver any speech that is “anti-state”, in favour of war criminals, hurt religious sentiments and can deteriorate the law and order.

Activists began preparing the stage at Madrassa Maidan around 5:00pm yesterday.

“Let us see, how far we can prepare in a night. We are not allowed to go to the venue until 2:00pm on Friday,” Minu said yesterday.

He also alleged that some members of the law enforcement agencies were tearing down the banners and posters for the rally in Kasiadanga area of the city.

He also alleged that the sudden transport strike in Natore was called for not letting people from other districts attend the rally.

He blamed the law enforcement agencies for the strike saying, “If they are not responsible, why are the law-enforcement agencies silent about the transport workers who have no specific reason for calling a strike?”

He said he expected a crowd of one lakh at the rally.

Minu also said people had no confidence on the Election Commission.

“The commission is made up of some jokers, people do not believe them.”

The government should dissolve parliament before the announcement of schedule for the 11th national election to ensure a level playing field, speakers at a roundtable said yesterday.

The country would face dire consequences if the government moved ahead to hold the election like the previous one in 2014, warned the speakers, who included a former adviser to a caretaker government, a former cabinet secretary, a former ambassador and an economist.

The Dhaka Forum (TDF) organised the programme titled “National Election of Bangladesh” at the Jatiya Press Club.

“Only three to four days remain before announcement of the polls schedule. But the government still can do many things, including dissolution of parliament, to create a level playing field,” said Hafizuddin Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government.

The Election Commission has so far failed to ensure a level playing field, Khan said, adding, the ruling party started electioneering many days ago when another major party was not allowed to hold a rally.

The election would not be free and fair if the EC remained subservient to the government, he observed.

“I don't see any possibility that the Election Commission can ensure a level playing field within the remaining days. It is only possible if the government wants [it],” he added.

Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Mazumder said the schedule should have been announced 90 days before the election as it would not be possible for the EC to ensure a level playing field in 45 days.

He suggested that the EC should take aggressive steps to ensure a level playing field so that every candidate can equally run election campaign and voters feel confident to go to polling centres.

Former ambassador M Serajul Islam in the keynote speech said the government is determined to repeat the 2014 election.

“If the dangers of repetition of the 2014 election materialise, it will almost certainly establish a one-party rule in the country that would be the antithesis of the Liberation War.”

Welcoming Jatiya Oikyafront, he expressed the hope that the new political platform would endure long enough to usher in an era of democratic governance in Bangladesh through a free and fair election.  

Former Bangladesh Bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed said there was no alternative to democracy to ensure sustainable and equal development.

“And there is no alternative to holding a free, fair and inclusive election to establish democracy and rule of law,” he added.

Political analyst Prof Dilara Chowdhury, Prof Asif Nazrul, among others, spoke at the programme.

Over 110 people, mostly BNP leaders and activists, were arrested in five districts yesterday on charges of subversive activities and attempted sabotage.

Debidwar upazila BNP Secretary General Mohammad Giasuddin and Burichang upazila BNP Joint Secretary Salauddin Ahmed were among the 63 arrested in 17 upazilas of Cumilla. Most of the other arrestees were BNP-Jamaat activists.

Mohammad Azimul Ahsan, additional superintendent of Cumilla police, said they were arresting “miscreants” to maintain law and order.

In Jhenidah, police held 43 people, including BNP-Jamaat men, from six upazilas on the similar charges.

At least seven BNP activists were detained in Khulna, claimed Shafiqul Alom Mona, president of Khulna BNP.

However, Abdur Rashid, officer-in-charge (watch) of Special Branch, told The Daily Star that police arrested 35 people in sabotage and other cases filed with different police stations of the district. “Police didn't arrest them seeing their political   identities.”

The law enforcers arrested two Jamaat activists in Gaibandha and nine BNP-Jamaat men in Dinajpur.

On Thursday, the BNP alleged that more than 2,200 of its leaders and activists were held across the country in just three days after Tuesday's rally of the Jatiya Oikyafront, an alliance of the BNP and some other political parties.

In Dhaka, law enforcers picked up at least 372 people before and after the Oikyafront rally in the city's Suhrawardy Udyan. They were arrested on different charges, including attacking police with brick chips, assembling illegally, creating obstacles to police duties, creating anarchy and attempted murder. Many of them were on remand after being produced before different Dhaka courts.

The police action has triggered panic among the BNP activists as they have already been accused in different “political cases”.

Our correspondents in Cumilla, Jhenidah, Khulna and Dinajpur contributed to this report.

Like Khulna division from which it was carved out, Barishal has been a swing division since 2001.  

Records also show that since the 1996 polls, the first after Barishal became a division, the party that bagged the most seats there, won the national polls.

In the 1996 election, no parties had thumped supremacy there. The AL won the election nationally and had secured 11 seats out of 23 in Barishal. The BNP and the Jatiya Party had five seats each.

In 2001, the BNP-led four-party alliance had a landslide victory nationally and Barishal swung towards the alliance. The alliance grabbed 18 seats while the AL got two.

The AL with its alliance bounced back in the 2008 election and Barishal swung towards the AL giving it 18 seats out of 21 while the BNP-led alliance was able to obtain only three.

With the BNP not in the picture, AL got 16 seats in the 2014 polls.

Jatiya Party has lost ground in Barishal over the years. It bagged five seats in 1996, but failed to secure any seat in 2001. Forging alliance with the AL, the party was able to obtain two seats in 2008 and 2014.

The division was formed in 1993 with Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, and Barguna districts.

Like other parts of the country, intra-party rivalry in the AL and the BNP is prevalent in Barishal.

At least 70 AL and 50 BNP leaders are vying for party tickets in the constituencies, reduced to 21 after the electoral map was redrawn ahead of the 2008 polls. 

The aspirants are busy campaigning, lobbying, and putting up banners, festoons and posters.

Talking to The Daily Star recently, Talukder Md Yunus, AL general secretary of Barishal district, said, “Multiple candidates are competing for nomination as the Awami League is a big party. Everybody will work for the candidates who will be nomination by the party.”

Bilkis Jahan Shirin, the BNP's organising secretary in Barishal division, alleged that law enforcement agencies were obstructing her party workers from carrying out political activities.

"Yet, our party activists are preparing to contest the election. All will work as per the party's decision … whoever gets the nomination.”

In the six constituencies of Barishal district, at least 20 AL leaders and 13 BNP nomination aspirants are campaigning vigorously.

Barishal district unit AL President Abul Hasnat Abdullah, who is believed to have influence in AL units of southern region, is the heavyweight candidate in Barisal-1. 

Other constituencies in the region have potential rebel problems. In Barishal-4 for instance, a group of AL leaders held a press conference in September alleging incumbent lawmaker Pankaj Debnath of indulging corruption and harassing party men.

In Barguna, at least 10 AL candidates and five BNP leaders are in the race for party tickets in the two constituencies there.

As a consequence, a group of AL leaders and activists declared Barguna-1 lawmaker Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu persona non grata in the constituency. At least five AL leaders are campaigning and lobbying for tickets there.

Potential rebels for the AL and BNP are fewer in Bhola. Some five AL's and six BNP's leaders are seeking tickets in the four constituencies. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed may run from Bhola-1.

In Jhalakathi, five AL and six BNP leaders are active on the ground. Senior AL leader and Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu is likely to contest from Jhalakathi-2

In Pirojpur, nine AL and 10 BNP leaders are trying to get party tickets in the three constituencies. Jatiya Party (Manju) chief Anwar Hossain Manju might run from Pirojpur-2. Convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee's son Shamim Sayedee may run from Porojpur-1.

Intra-party conflict allegedly led to the killing of a Jubo League activist during a clash in Mothbaria (Pirojpur-3) constituency in July, 2016.

In Patuakhali, at least 22 AL and 11 BNP leaders are campaigning for party nominations in its four constituencies.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament today (June 22, 2022) expressed hope that the next national parliamentary elections will be held in a free and fair manner with the participation of all political parties.

She also said her government has taken 11 "remarkable measures" to make the next national elections more acceptable and inclusive.

The measures include ensuring an environment where party activities can be carried out smoothly.

The premier said this in reply to a query from the main opposition Jatiya Party MP Syed Abu Hossain.

The JP lawmaker from Dhaka-4 (Demra-Shyampur) asked PM whether she has any special plans as daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to ensure participation of all registered political parties in a bid to make the next parliamentary elections more acceptable and inclusive.

In her written answer, Hasina, also Leader of the House said, as per Article 118 (4) of the Constitution, Election Commission is an independent and constitutional body.

"The chief election commissioner and other election commissioners carry out their respective work independently in line with the constitution and the law. The government assists the election commission as per requirement," she added.

"(I) hope that the next national parliamentary polls will be held in a free and fair manner with participation of all political parties," Hasina, also president of ruling Awami League said.

"The EC will remain independent in carrying out its activities and it will remain only under the jurisdiction of the constitution and the law. It is the duty of the government and the executive authority to assist the EC in carrying out its activities."

Saying that election is an essential element in the democratic system, PM said the role of Awami League in protecting Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty and democracy is historic and undeniable.

The PM said her government has formulated the election commission law in line with the Article 118 (1) of the Constitution to hold the local body and national election in an acceptable and neutral manner.

She also said 22 amendment proposals of opposition parties were accepted during placing of "Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Bill" which is the first step of making the election acceptable, free, fair and neutral.

The PM said voter list with photographs have been prepared in a bid to ensure the election is fair and acceptable. Transparent ballot boxes and electronic voting machines have been introduced.