Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has made a comment that it needs to bring changes in BNP leadership- the strongest part of Jatiya Oikyafront. He said this to the news media at his home in Sylhet city on Monday. The Finance Minister said, Awami League has won the election with huge margin of votes. But I have a grief that the election was not held with participation of any strong party. It is a matter of great sorrow. He said, BNP should learn from this election. They need to bring changes in their leadership. AH    

The much discussed three leaders joined Jatiya Oikyafront leaving Awami League several months before the eleventh national parliament election. Through voting results they were defeated with huge vote differences. Of the three leaders one is former Awami League Member of Parliament (MP) Golam Maula Rony. The other two leaders are Reza Kibria and Abu Sayeed. Of the three leaders Golam Maula Rony was in the greatest fiasco. He took part in the election from Patuakhali-3 constituency with sheaf of paddy symbol. He got only 6 thousand 176 votes. But the winner Awami League candidate Shahjada got 34 times ( 2 lakh 15 thousand 579) votes than him. In Habiganj-1 constituency Reza Kibria got 85 thousand 197 votes. Awami League candidate Gazi Mohammad Shahnewaz (Milad Gazi) won from this constituency. He got 1 lakh 58 thousand 188 votes. In Pabna-1 constituency Awami League candidate Shamsul Haque Tuku won the election. He got 2 lakh 82 thousand 992 votes. In this constituency Professor Abu Sayeed who recently joined Oikyafront from Awami League got only 15 thousand 391 votes, which is one eighteenth of Tuku. The Jatiya Oikyafront led by Dr. Kamal Hossain was formed on October 13 of the current year. After that former Awami League finance minister’s son Reza Kibria and former state minister for information Professor Abu Sayeed joined Dr. Kamal Hossain’s party Gono Forum. Both of them became Oikyafront candidates in the election with symbol sheaf of paddy. On the other hand just before the election former Awami League MP Golam Maula Rony joined BNP and ran for election with symbol sheaf of paddy. AH    

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, it is proved that fair election will not be possible under party led government at any time. This election will remain as stigma. He said these at a post election press conference at BNP Chairperson’s political office at Gulshan in the capital on Monday. Mirza Fakhrul said, well planned engineering was done in the election. After declaring the election schedule seals were given on the ballot papers with help of administration. So we are rejecting the results of this election. At that time he repeated the word rejecting several times. The BNP Secretary General said, more than 21 thousand leaders and activists of our party were arrested centering the election. Hundreds of cases were filed against them. Mirza Fakhrul demanded for new election under neutral government after cancelling this election. He said, BNP went for election to continue democratic trend, to return people’s rights of vote after so much repression. Programs will be given very soon for holding new election. Mirza Fakhrul also said, after the election attack, vandalism are going on the BNP leaders and activists even their homes are being burnt. More than 21 thousand leaders-activists were arrested throughout the country. There is no place in the Dhaka Central Jail and same condition is prevailing in the jails of outside Dhaka. He demanded release of the captives and withdrawal of cases against them. He also said that movement along with legal activities will go on. AH    

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president Hasanul Huq Inu said, BNP-Jamaat do not accept the results if they are defeated in the election. They raise demand for reelection without logic. It is their history. He said these to the newsmen while being greeted after winning the election from Kushtia-2 constituency at his residence at Bheramara guest house area in Kushtia on Monday. Inu said, political goodbye bell has rung for BNP-Jamaat through eleventh national parliament election. Now democratic and non-communal Bangladesh will move ahead keeping its head high, the way people rejected evil forces BNP-Jamaat-Oikyafront through votes. At that time Inu also said, the journey of development should be maintained through performing our responsibilities that people has given to Sheikh Hasina and us. Political harmony has to be maintained. To prevent discrimination-corruption and to establish good governance we have to work with iron hand. Local Awami League and JSD leaders and activists were present at that moment. AH   

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has made a remark that Jatiya Oikyafront led by BNP has got seven seats for their own fault. The Prime Minister said this while exchanging views with foreign observers and journalists over the eleventh national parliament election. She said, the situation has turned into this stage for BNP as the eligible candidates did not get nominations. BNP was rejected for their terrorist activities. People have voted for Awami League as their fates are changed. Sheikh Hasina said, zero tolerance will continue against drugs, corruption and militancy. Voting took place in 299 seats for the eleventh national parliament election on Sunday. Total 39 registered political parties participated in the election. More than one thousand eight hundred candidates took part in the competition. Of them about 50 were independent candidates and the rest were from different political parties. Of the total 300 constituencies results were suspended in one constituency and voting did not take place in one for death of a candidate. In the election the Grand Alliance led by Awami League bagged 288 seats. The Oikyafront led by BNP won 7 seats. AH