Chattogram: Jatiya Oikyafront chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday warned the government of facing trial in the future if it does not accept their seven-point demand for holding the next election in a fair and credible manner, reports the UNB.

‘People gave their verdict in favour of the seven-point by raising their hands today. A mass verdict was also given in Sylhet in this regard. We would like to tell the government to accept the demands before time runs out. Or else, you’ll have to face trial,’ he said.

Speaking at a rally arranged by Oikyafront in front of BNP office at Kazir Dewri in the port city, Dr Kamal further said, ‘If you violate or ignore peoples’ decision, you can’t even imagine the punishment that you will get for it.’

He accused the government of regularly violating the constitution and warned that it has to be accountable to people for it one day.

‘The constitution is being violated every day... it was told in 2014 that the election was held for a temporary period to face crisis and another election would be held later...five years have gone without any election. This is a serious offence as per the constitution. We must hold them accountable for it,’ Oikyafront chief said.

He said people will turn out to be victorious this time by forcing the government to accept their demands for holding a fair election through their united efforts. ‘There’s nothing impossible to achieve when people get united as we had proved it in the past, including during the Liberation War.’

Dr Kamal, also the president of Gono forum, criticised the government for not releasing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail. ‘Khaleda Zia’s release is not a matter of demand as it should happen normally.’

The rally activities started around 1:30pm on Saturday with recitation from the holy Quran and holy Gita. Chattogram city unit BNP president Dr Shahdat Hossain presided over the rally.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, its senior leader, JSD President ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and other Oikyafront leaders addressed the rally.

Before the beginning of the rally, senior leaders of the Oikyafront visited the shrine of Hazrat Shah Amanat ® and offered fateha there.

This was the second rally of the newly formed alliance as it held its maiden one in Sylhet on October 24.

Several hundred leaders and activists of the party holding placards, banners and portraits of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman started gathering at the rally venue since noon.

Huge law enforcers were deployed around the rally venue to maintain law and order.

The Oikyafront’s seven-point demand includes installation of a neutral interim government, dissolution of parliament, reconstitution the Election Commission, release of all the political prisoners, deployment of army and cancellation of the move to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS) for holding the next polls in fair and acceptable manner.

On October 13, BNP together with Dr Kama Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, JSD and Nagorik Oikya launched the Jatiy Oikyafront to press for their seven-point demand.