They said he made a joke of the people's right to vote by calling on them to vote for the candidates of their choice amid festivity.

The Saturday's statement of the president/ chief adviser has proved that his only goal is to bring back the BNP-Jamaat alliance to power through one-sided elections, Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon said.

In his statement, the president/ chief adviser has not only misinterpreted the constitution, but also violated his oath, Menon said.

Five-left party, a platform of Jatiya Gono Front, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Biplobi Oikya Front, Gonotantrik Mazdur Party and Gono Shanghati Andolon, in a meeting yesterday condemned the statement of the president/chief adviser.

The statement proves that the caretaker government is a mere extension of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, they said.

Mushrefa Mishu chaired the meeting while Tipu Biswas, Abdus Salam and other leaders were present.

Workers' Party (Abbas) also protested and rejected the statement, saying that the president/chief adviser's 'blind allegiance' to BNP-Jamaat alliance has pushed the nation to the brink of confrontation and grave crisis.

At a meeting held at its office yesterday, the party's general secretary Saiful Haque also called for cancellation of the election schedule and steps to create a democratic atmosphere conducive to free and fair polls.