Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday said holding polls to two Dhaka City corporations on the day of Saraswati Puja is an unjust act.

 “The government has committed an unjust act by fixing the election date on January 30 as the Saraswati Puja will be held on that day. Such things didn’t happen in the past,” he said.

Dr Kamal came up with the remarks after a meeting of Jatiya Oikyafront’s steering committee at his Motijheel chamber.

He said if the election cannot be held on the Eid day, it should be held on the day of Saraswati Puja either. “I think it’s the government’s failure and negligence.”

The Oikyafront convener also said their alliance has moral support to Dhaka University students’ movement demanding deferment of the election date.

On December 22 last, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda announced the election schedule for the polls to DNCC and DSCC, fixing January 30 as the voting date.

Meanwhile, an appeal was filed today with the Appellate Division challenging the High Court order that turned down a writ petition seeking deferment of the January 30 elections as it coincides with Saraswati Puja of the Hindu community.

Dr Kamal said there is no atmosphere for fair elections in two Dhaka city corporations as the ruling party candidates, MPs and ministers are violating the election code of conduct while the Oikyafront candidates are obstructed from carrying out electioneering.

He also said the Election Commission is also not taking any action against those destroying the election atmosphere.

“People are in favour of the election as their ownership of the country can be ensured through it. People won’t get back their ownership of the country unless the election is held in a free and fair manner,” the Oikyafront chief said.

He said their alliance will hold four wayside rallies--two each in Dhaka south and north city corporations--to drum up public support in favour of ‘the Sheaf of Paddy candidates, Ishraque Hossain and Tabith Awal.

The meeting voiced concern over making small investors ‘paupers’ by plundering their money through tricks from the share market.

“The country’s economic condition has become so awful that a father, who was unable to repay a loan of Tk 6,000, handed over his daughter to the creditor for rape.  This incident is a glaring example of the level of people’s helplessness and poor condition when the government is hitting the drum of development,” said a written statement signed by Dr Kamal.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president (JSD-Rob) ASM Abdur Rob, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Gonoforum executive presidents Prof Abu Sayeed, Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Dr Reza Kibria, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury were, among others, present at the meeting.