Dhaka: Jatiya Oikyafront’s public hearing on the ‘irregularities’ in the 11th parliamentary election began in the city on Friday morning.

The programme, which began at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium around 10:00am, will continue till 4-5pm with a one-hour break from 1:00pm.

At the beginning of the programme, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir read out a condolence motion in memory of those killed in Chawkbazar fire incident.

The Oikyafront leaders and activists also paid homage to the fire victims by observing a one-minute silence.

A munajat was also offered seeking salvation of the victims’ departed souls and praying for the early recovery of those suffered injuries.

Later, a six-member panel, led by Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain, started hearing the statements of the alliance candidates who contested the election.

Other members of the panel are Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, ex-judge AKM Anisur Rahman Khan, Prof Nurul Amin Bepari, Prof Dilara Chowdhury and Advocate Mohsin Rashid.

Senior leaders of BNP, Gono Forum, JSD, Nagorik Oikya and Krishak Sramik Janata League, Oikyafront’s candidates of 11th parliamentary polls and activists and supporters of the alliance joined the programme.

The public hearing was originally rescheduled to be held on February 24. However, Oikyafront rescheduled it for February 22 as they failed to manage any venue in the capital to hold the programme on February 24.

All the candidates of the Oikyafront and the left democratic alliance were invited to join the public hearing.