Gazipur: Jatiya Oikyafront senior leader ASM Abdur Rob on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is out to ‘halt’ the December-30 general election fearing a ‘debacle’.

‘The government’s condition is not good. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is trying to stay aside from the election as she’s got scared. She’s looking for a way to stop the election and quit the race,’ he said, reports the UNB.

Rob, also the president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), came up with the remarks while speaking at an election rally in front of BNP candidate for Gazipur-2 Salahuddin Sarker’s residence at Tongi.

Earlier, the Jatiya Oikyafront senior leaders, led by Rob, launched the alliance’s first election road march towards Mymensingh region from the capital’s Uttara area to drum up public support in favour of the candidates of the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’.

Dr Kamal, who was supposed to lead the Oikyafront team, could not join the road march due to his illness.

In their first rally on way to Mymensingh at Tongi, Rob also said they can assure Sheikh Hasina that they will not repress her if their alliance is voted to power. ‘We’ll also allow you to leave the country if you want so.’

He urged the Oikyafront leaders and activists to form polling station watch committees across the county.

‘Constitute a 101-member centre watch committee comprising superiors, imams of mosques and madrasa teachers for every polling station. Committee members will stay around the centres and won’t leave those until the end of voting,’ Rob said.

He called upon people to cast their votes for the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ to have BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia freed from jail. ‘Your one vote will intensify Khaleda Zia’s release.’

Rob asked the government to immediately stop filing ‘false’ cases and arresting opposition leaders and activists. Or else, he warned that people will put up a strong resistance against it.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan criticised the government for what he said repressing, attacking and arresting their party leaders and activists across the country.

He said people will snatch their victory on December 30 through creating a strong resistance against the ‘autocratic’ regime.

Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the government cannot stop them with repressive acts, arrest and attack on their leaders and activists.

‘We’ve asked our leaders and activists to have patience until December 29, and endure all attacks and repressions. We won’t reply to any repressive acts as people are getting ready to come up with a befitting reply to all unfair acts through ballot on the election day,’ he added.

Later, the alliance leaders held the second rally at Tangail’s Sreepur and sought vote for Oikyafront candidate Iqbal Siddiqui.

BNP vice-chairmen Selima Rahman and AZM Zahid Hossain, Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddiqui and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, among others, joined the road march programme.

The Oikyafront leaders are scheduled to hold five more rallies during the road march which will end on the premises of Sherpur municipality Park.

Earlier on December 12, the Oikyafront, a major opposition alliance led by Dr Kamal Hossain, formally flagged off its election campaign from Sylhet through offering fateha at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal ®.

Later, they offered fateha at the shrine of Shah Paran ® and conducted electioneering in Sylhet city in favour of the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’.