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| Bangladesh |
| Oikya Front in till the end |
| 2018-12-27 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] A level playing field is all that BNP and its electoral alliance partners asked for. With the polling date just round the corner, the alliance (Jatiya Oikya Front) leaders now consider they are not getting a fair deal as far as a congenial election environment is concerned. This raises worries in the minds of the public about a possible pull out by the Front from the race. But talking to the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday, some of the key opposition functionaries made it clear that a poll boycott is something not in their agenda. In the same breath, they said it will largely depend on the Election Commission how things shape up in run up to the December 30 parliamentary polls but, they would remain in the poll battle till the end. Jatiya Oikya Front leaders, who have been complaining of wholesale arrests and harassments of their leaders and workers across the country and finding difficulties in carrying out election campaigns, on Wednesday sought the President’s assistance in getting rid of the current chief election commissioner (CEC) through an ’unbiased’ replacement. The development came a day after the alliance leaders had walked out of a meeting with the CEC and other Commissioners after failing to get any serious response to their allegations of law enforcers playing a partisan role. They claimed, since announcement of election schedule, as many as 43,766 BNP men were jugged Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! in numerous old cases as well as in 269 new cases. Besides, some of the opposition MP candidates also received injuries in the polls violence. The platform led by eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain is now trying hard to remain in the poll battle ignoring constant alleged attacks and harassments by law enforcers and ruling party cadres. It still hoping against hope and expecting a level playing field as the election is approaching fast. The leaders claimed that they were promised of level playing field and an end to harassment from the EC and the ruling Awami League, but the harassment continues against the opposition men, while the ruling candidates are electioneering in full swing, even with police support in many areas. Against this backdrop, top alliance leaders say they are monitoring the activities of the Election Commission to decide on whether it will continue the poll battle or not. Now, many of the alliance’s MP’s feel insecure and not being able to run their electioneering, they alleged that they are more concerned of their personal safety and pursuing poll campaigns have become secondary to them. |
| Posted by:Fred |