Oikya Front to contest polls with ‘Sheaf of Paddy’: Manna

All the alliance partners of the Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front have decided to contest the 11th parliamentary elections with a common symbol, 'Sheaf of Paddy', reports UNB.

Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna came up with the announcement on Thursday after a meeting of the alliance leaders at Kamal Hossain's Motijheel chamber.

"We've decided at our meeting that we all the parties who've formed the Jatiya Oikya Front will contest the election with a common election symbol and this common symbol is the Sheaf of Paddy," he said.

About Wednesday's clash between police and BNP activists at Naya Paltan, he said the incident took place due to government provocations.

Manna also said Awami League leader HT Imam threatened the election commission with his comment that the election cannot be delayed even for an hour.

He alleged that the government wants Oikya Front not to join the election, but they will go to the polls braving all the odds and obstacles.

The Oikya Front leader also said they will continue to press their demand for delaying the election.

On 13 October, BNP together with Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Gano Forum, JSD and Nagorik Oikya launched the Jatiya Oikya Front to press for their seven-point demand. Later, Abdul Kader Siddiqui-led Krishak Sramik Janata joined the alliance.