The JOF leaders briefed the diplomats at a city hotel about the irregularities, vote rigging, stuffing of ballot boxes and driving out the opposition polling agents from the polling centres and attacks on the opposition candidates in the elections portraying the sorry scenario by way of documents and evidences, the sources said.

After the closed-door meeting with foreign diplomats, Oikya Front convener Dr Kamal Hossain told journalists that the discussion with the diplomats went well.

‘We have portrayed the incidents that took place on the polling day. They (diplomats) also saw with their own eyes. There were no debates over it,’ he said.

‘I have entreated that you (diplomats) should persuade the government to hold a proper election, which is the only imperative now, a solution to the problem at hand,’ Kamal told the reporters.

He said the diplomats enquired about what the JOF wants and the front leaders told them that if the government holds another proper election, only then would all the voters be able to cast their votes peacefully. If it takes place, that would lead to a peaceful solution.

In reply to a question, Kamal, Gono Forum president, said whatever happened, there should be a proper election.
He said if another peaceful election is held then there would be a democratic government on the basis of the election results, thereby enabling the government to fulfil the aspirations of the people.

The meeting that lasted for about one and a half hours from 4:00pm was attended by diplomats of more than 30 countries including USA, UK, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Russia, China, Korea, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Australia, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, the front leaders said.

Kamal Hossain briefing was aimed at informing the diplomats about the incidents that took place before, during and after the elections of December 30.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, also JOF spokesperson, spoke on the election violence.
A power-point presentation on various irregularities of the latest general election was screened at the meeting and documents and evidences were provided to the diplomats, the meeting sources said.

Candidates of JOF, who contested in the elections and were victims of attacks by the ruling party goons and law enforcers during electioneering, including Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Afroza Abbas were present at the meeting.

BNP leaders including Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Asaduzzaman Ripon, Fahmina Nasrin Munni, ASM Abdur Rob of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagorik Oikya, Subrata Chowdhury of Gono Forum and Zafrullah Chowdhury of Gano Shashthya Kendra were present at the briefing.