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."

Jatiya Oikyafront, in its election manifesto, promised that the price of electricity and gas will not be hiked in the first year if they are voted to power.

Electricity price will not increase in the next five years for consumers using the highest of 100 units a month, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikya and a leader of the Oikyafront, said while reading out the manifesto at a press briefing at a hotel in Dhaka.

Rural, small and cottage industries and all public and private hospitals will get electricity at concessionary domestic household price instead of commercial rate, Manna said.

WHAT IS JATIYA OIKYAFRONT?

The Jatiya Oikyafront is an alliance of the BNP, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, ASM Abdur Rob’s Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Nagorik Oikya.

The Oikyafront was formed on October 13 with the demands of a national election under a neutral government after dissolution of parliament and release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

WHAT ARE OIKYAFRONT’S AGENDAS?

Formed with major political oppositions to ruling alliance, the Oikyafront includes ruling Awami League’s arch opposition BNP.

Currently, they are campaigning with a seven-point charter including freedom for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and election under a nonpartisan government.

WHAT ARE OIKYAFRONT’S DEMANDS?

The 11-point goal announced by the alliance includes ensuring checks and balances in the state power, decentralisation of administration, freeing MPs from the stringent restrictions imposed on them under article 70 of the constitution, formation of a constitutional commission to make appointments to all constitutional and other important posts and full independence of the judiciary.

The alliance also announced a seven-point demand, including the one for holding the next parliamentary election under a nonpartisan government, dissolution of parliament before the polls and reconstitution of the Election Commission.

Jatiya Oikyafront has pledged speedy trial of the attackers who pounced on students during the movement of safe roads a few months ago.

The major opposition alliance touched the pulse of the students involved with the popular student movement of August in its manifesto.

During that time, the attackers, wearing helmets, who became popular as “helmet goons”, drew outrage from all quarters, including the students.

Going further into developing the transport sector, Oikyafront pledged immediate steps to mitigate the traffic congestion in major cities.

It spoke of drawing elaborate policies, prioritising public transportation, and promising safe and comfortable commute for all citizens of the country.

Oikyafront also pledged to expand the railway sector.

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Nagorik Oikya convener and a leader of Oikyafront, read out the charter of the opposition alliance in Dhaka city today.

WHAT IS JATIYA OIKYAFRONT?

The Jatiya Oikyafront is an alliance of the BNP, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, ASM Abdur Rob’s Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s Nagorik Oikya.

The Oikyafront was formed on October 13 with the demands of a national election under a neutral government after dissolution of parliament and release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

WHAT ARE OIKYAFRONT’S AGENDAS?

Formed with major political oppositions to ruling alliance, the Oikyafront includes ruling Awami League’s arch opposition BNP.

Currently, they are campaigning with a seven-point charter including freedom for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and election under a nonpartisan government.

WHAT ARE OIKYAFRONT’S DEMANDS?

The 11-point goal announced by the alliance includes ensuring checks and balances in the state power, decentralisation of administration, freeing MPs from the stringent restrictions imposed on them under article 70 of the constitution, formation of a constitutional commission to make appointments to all constitutional and other important posts and full independence of the judiciary.

The alliance also announced a seven-point demand, including the one for holding the next parliamentary election under a nonpartisan government, dissolution of parliament before the polls and reconstitution of the Election Commission.

Jatiya Oikyafront’s leader Dr Kamal Hossain today urged law enforcers against following unlawful orders.  

Bringing allegation that the government has taken total control of police and administration, he said, “I have never seen such a situation in my life.”

Kamal, also the president of Gonoforum, was addressing a press briefing just before Jatiya Oikyafront’s manifesto was unveiled at a city hotel in Dhaka.

“Our candidates are arrested everywhere. Not even one of our candidates has been spared from attack and harm,” he claimed.

 Dr Kamal also recast a shadow of doubt over the fairness of the upcoming polls.

“Ensure the polls are held in the way the public wants,” Dr Kamal urged everyone.

If fair and credible polls are not held then the country will be pushed into a terrifying situation, Dr Kamal said.

The veteran leader also echoed the statement of students’ who were protesting for safer roads and said “this country needs to be repaired.”

Terming the prevailing trend of robbing the state wealth as horrible, Jatiya Oikyafront today said that the country and its sovereignty will plunge into a severe internal crisis if it is continued.

Jatiya Oikyafront, led-by Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, thinks that such type of irregularities and misdeeds can’t take place unless government helps, said a press statement signed by Oikyafront leader Reza Kibria.

“It is now proved that the undemocratic government has pushed the country to the verge of collapse only to take the state power under its absolute control through indulging in irregularities and corruption,” Oikyafront said in the context of the ongoing crackdown on the casino and illegal business.

In the statement, Oikyafront demanded the resignation of the present government and called upon it to announce a national government to uphold the country’s independence and sovereignty.

The Oikyafront, in the statement, also said that holding of a national dialogue with political parties and professional bodies will be the time buffeting step to resolve the prevailing crisis.

It also demanded the formation of a national commission to probe the government’s indulgence in criminal activities including abduction, killing and enforced disappearance and corruption.

The Oikyafront also demanded the immediate release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other political parties’ leaders from jail.