With a call not to go to voting centres on Sunday’s farcical election, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim on Saturday urged people of the country to boycott the election in a body.

“The people of the country will have to refrain from the election to endanger the independence and sovereignty of the country,” he said.

Rezaul Karim, popularly known as Pir Saheb Charmonai, made the calls at a conference held with the presence of the party leaders and activists and locals at Union Parishad Auditorium of Charmonai Union in Barishal on Saturday afternoon.

Read: Awami League set to win Sunday’s election amid opposition boycott

Criticising Obaidul Qauder’s recent remark ‘if India is there, we are here’, the IAB chief claimed that the country is under hostage of India.

He said not more than 10 to 12 percent of people will go to the polling stations to cast their votes despite intimidation from police and Awami League.

Tomorrow’s election can’t be called a vote and it is clear who will form the next government and will be premier, he said, adding that it is a renewal of power through dividing seats among own selves.

The Charmonai said the ruling party held a one-sided election in 2014, a night vote in 2018 and now a dummy election in 2024.

Read: Commonwealth secy gen’s statement did not reflect the ground reality of BD: BNP

He put forward a five point demand to the government:

1. The one-sided farcical election on January 7 must be stopped.

2. The existing National Assembly should be dissolved.

3. A national government should be formed in consultation with the registered and agitating political parties.

4. The present Election Commission should be dissolved and the new Election Commission under the national government will announce the reschedule for the 12th national election.

5. All opposition leaders and activists imprisoned for political reasons must be released.