Dhaka: Jatiya Oikyafront chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Monday said those who try to deprive people of their voting right are the enemies of independence and predecessors of Pakistan’s Yahya Khan.

‘People waged the Liberation War with a dream of becoming the country’s owners and enjoying the right to franchise. We’re now untied to cast our votes but those who’re trying to deprive us of the voting right are the enemies of independence and ancestors of Yahya Khan of Pakistan,’ he said, reports the UNB.

Dr Kamal was addressing a programme arranged by Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad as the chief guest.

‘Even after 47 years of the country’s independence, we’ve to go to election through waging a movement. What can be more shameful than this?’ questioned Dr Kamal.

‘Who’ve brought this shame for us? We were supposed to exercise our franchise with joy. But, there’s no congenial situation for voting. ‘

Those who try to obstruct people from exercising their voting right have no respect to independence, no respect to Bangabandhu, Tajuddin and the lakhs of martyrs, he added.

‘We’ve earned independence sacrificing the blood of lakhs of martyrs.  Martyrs entrusted with the responsibility of protecting our independence and the voting right of people. We’ve to elect our representatives through exercising our franchise to protect our independence,’ Kamal said.

‘We’re untied to use our voting right… we’ve to safeguard the trust of martyrs. No autocrat will be allowed to stay there in power,’ he added.