Oikyafront to run polls, demands deferment of election date

-- Oikyafront to take part in polls

-- Urges EC to re announce polls schedule

-- Decision if they will run polls under single symbol later

Newly formed political alliance Jatiya Oikyafront today confirmed that it would take part in the 11th national election. It also urged the Election Commission to defer the election date by a month.

"Despite extreme adverse situation, Jatiya Oikyafront has decided to participate in the election as part of their movement for restoration of democracy," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement.

He was reading a written statement on behalf of the alliance’s top leader Dr Kamal Hossain at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

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“We are not moving away from our seven-point demand. We are adding the demand of deferring the election schedule by one month,” said Fakhrul.

He further said that the government is yet to ensure a level playing field for holding a free, fair and neutral election.

About the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), Fakhrul said, “The Election Commission has not scraped the decision of using EVMs in the poll despite resistance from all the parties and the general people. Amid such a situation, acceptable polls is not possible.”

WHAT IS JATIYA OIKYAFRONT? 

The Jatiya Oikyafront is an alliance of the BNP, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, ASM Abdur Rab'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.

Also, the alliance is currently seeking active dialogue with the ruling quarter over the general election likely in December. It hopes, it’s demands will be met.

Its top leaders have said, tougher programmes will be announced from Tuesday’s public rally to press for its demands.

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 recasting the Election Commission.