Opposition alliance plans anti-government agitation

Dhaka – The opposition alliance headed by Kamal Hossain has announced a human chain protest in Dhaka for end of this month to press for their demands, including a fresh national election under a neutral administration.

Leaders of the Jatiya Oikya Front, a political alliance surfaced in October last year combining Bangladesh Nationalist Party of jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia, announced the programe Friday at a press conference.

The leaders and activists of the alliance, which rejected the result of the December 30 general election after a devastating defeat, will not form the human chain on March 30 in front of the National Press Club in the city.

Mahmudjur Rahman Manna, chief of Nagorik Oikya, one of the components of the alliance, said the decision was taken at a joint meeting of steering committee of the combine.

The alliance will also protest against the government’s failure to ensure road safety, irregularities in the local government election, snatching of students’ votes in DUCSU polls, financial inequality and plundering of public funds.

Protests will also be arranged in the headquarters of the districts and divisions across the country, Manna said adding that rallies will be held in April to spread the oppositions’ demand.

He observed that the people did not turn out to cast their votes in the ongoing upazila polls as they lost confidence in the election system after ‘vote robbery’ on December 30 national election.

The alliance is now planning to wage a new phase of movement to realize their demands for a fresh national election, he added.

The meeting, Manna said, has also finalized a two-day programme to mark the Independence Day on March 26 and the following day. They will place floral wreath at the National memorial at Savar on March 26 and hold a discussion at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh on March 27.

Senior leaders of the alliance attended the press conference.

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