Police block July Oikya protest march to EC headquarters

Police today stopped activists of July Oikya as they marched toward the Election Commission (EC) in Dhaka, demanding the cancellation of the candidacies of nominees from the Jatiya Party, the 14-party alliance, and the National Democratic Front (NDF) ahead of February 12 elections.

The protesters carried out a programme titled “March to the Election Commission,” beginning their procession around 1:00pm, but were blocked by police in front of the Islamic Foundation in Agargaon.

More than 50 members of July Oikya chanted slogans demanding that the Jatiya Party be barred from participating in the upcoming election. They also held placards displaying their demands.

After 1:00pm, a July Oikya delegation entered the EC headquarters to submit a memorandum, while the remaining protesters staged a sit-in in front of the Islamic Foundation.

The organisers said similar marches and memorandum submissions will take place tomorrow at EC offices in divisional cities across the country.

Members of law enforcement agencies, including Ansar, police, Rab and the Coast Guard, were deployed in and around the EC building in Agargaon during the programme.