Oikyafront holds mass hearing

Defeated BNP-led Oikyafront candidates suggested on Friday setting up of people's tribunal in all the districts to hold hearing on, what they said, vote-rigging and irregularities in the 11th parliament election.

The suggestion came at a public hearing on alleged irregularities in the last national election at the Supreme Court Lawyers Association Auditorium in the capital.

Jatiya Oikyarfront organised the hearing which started at 10:00 am (first session). The hearing was divided into two sessions. The second session started at 4:00 pm.

Convener of Jatiya Oikyafront Dr Kamal Hossain presided over the hearing.

They have no right to judge since they are not judges, he said, adding that trial will be held at election tribunal.

Dr Kamal said they will publish a book compiling all speeches delivered at the hearing.

The defeated candidates of BNP and Oikyafront alleged the ruling Awami League rigged the polls with the support of the administration.

They alleged that the leaders and supporters of BNP were tortured by ruling party candidates and their followers. To rig the polls, false cases were filed against them just before the election, they claimed.

They said the election was not held on December 30 rather it was held on the night of December 29 last (2018).

One-minute silence was observed for Chawkbazar fire victims before the start of mass hearing.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir read out condolence motion at the mass hearing.

He said the election on December 30 last was marked by vote rigging and widespread irregularities.

"The government is unilaterally doing what it wants to do due to the absence of democracy in the country," he added.

Former Justice AKM Anisur Rahman Khan, Prof Dilara Chowdhury, Dr Emajuddin Ahmed, Dr Asif Nazrul, Dr Nurul Amin Bepari and Advocate Mohsin Rasheed acted as members of the jury board in the hearing.

BNP candidate of Lalmonirhat Asadul Habib Dulu said there was no election on December 30 rather it was a day of vote-rigging.

Cent per cent vote were shown cast at seven polling centres of his constituency, he said, adding that votes were cast in the name of even deceased persons at those polling centres.

Jashore-3 constituency Oikyafront candidate Aninda Islam Amit alleged he came under attacks several times by the ruling Awami League.

Besides, false cases were filed against his one thousand supporters. He also alleged that all votes were cast just before 10:00 am on the voting day.

Vote rigging took place with support of the administration, he said, and suggested forging unity among the people and freeing Khaleda Zia from jail.

Another Oikyarfront and Gono Froum candidate of Kurigram-2 constituency Major Gen (retd) Amsa Amin said ruling party leaders and activists in his area snatched ballots papers due to casting of votes in favour of sheaf of paddy symbol.

"Ruling party men did not burn ballot papers rather they burned the country's democracy."

Habiganj-2 constituency Oikyafront candidate and member of Gono Forum Reza Kibria alleged that plainclothes police arrested his followers before the election.

He said many of his supporters left their home before one and a half months of the election due to fear about arrest, torture and persecution.

Rumana Mahmud, another Oikyafront candidate for Sirajganj, alleged that police fired shots during her election campaign.

She said one of her supporters Merry Begum sustained eye injuries due to firing.

Barishal-6 constituency candidate of Oikyafront Abul Hossain Khan said it was not election rather it was a state-sponsored vote robbery.

He alleged that the government with the help of the administration robbed the election.

Pirojpur-2 constituency candidate and labour party chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said mass hearing will yield no results, keeping Khaleda Zia in jail.

He called upon Oikyafront leaders to announce fresh programmes to topple the government.

He said mass movement is the only way to get rid of the present situation.

Oikyafront candidate of Pabna-3 constituency Habibur Rahman Habib, Madaripur-3 Anisur Rahman Khokon, Barishal-4 Nurur Rahman Jahangir, Habiganj-1 Reza Kibria, and Khairul Kabir Khokon of Narsingdi Sadar gave their depositions at the hearing.

BNP leaders Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Selima Rahman, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal ASM Abdur Rab, president of Krishak Sramik Janata League Abdul Kader Siddique, convener of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna and executive president of Gono Forum Advocate Subrata Chowdhury and general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury were present.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com