Jatiya Oikyafront has demanded that the Election Commission should issue directives to the Home Ministry to release all leaders and activists of different parties arrested in 'political' cases, reports UNB.
Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikyafront placed the demand in a letter sent to Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.
The alliance's media coordinator Latiful Bari Hamim submitted the letter signed by its Chief Coordinator Mostafa Mohsin Montu on Monday evening.
In the letter, Jatiya Oikyafront said no one can be arrested for political reasons after the announcement of valid candidates. "Especially no candidate should be harassed," it said.
"The Election Commission can issue directives to the Home Ministry to release any political leader or activist in a political case," the letter says.
"So, the Chief Election Commissioner is requested to issue directives for the release of all leaders and activists detained in political cases following the Constitution for the sake of holding the election in a fair and credible manner," the letter reads.
A total of 2,279 nomination papers were declared valid while 786 others were announced invalid by the returning officers during Sunday's scrutiny.
The 11th parliamentary elections will be held on December 30.
Another report adds: The nomination papers of 141 BNP aspirants and that of three Awami League contestants were rejected by the returning officers across the country during Sunday's scrutiny, said the Election Commission on Monday.
Now, the number of BNP's valid candidates came down to 555 while that of AL to 278, according to data compiled by the Election Commission.
During the scrutiny, the nomination papers of 38 HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party were cancelled. So, the number of Jatiya Party's valid candidates stood at 195.
However, no nomination paper was rejected in 35 constituencies across the country.
The returning officers on Sunday cancelled 786 nomination papers out of total 3,065 submitted by contestants in 300 constituencies to contest the 11th parliamentary elections slated for December 30.
A total of 696 BNP runners submitted nomination papers in 295 constituencies and 281 AL aspirants in 264 constituencies within the deadline that expired on November 28.
