Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and two other like-minded political parties on Tuesday announced simultaneous programmes in the second phase to press home their five demands, including the introduction of the proportional representation (PR) system in the upcoming national polls.
The programmes include a mass campaign from 1 to 9 October, a mass procession in Dhaka and other divisional cities on 10 October, and the submission of memorandums to the offices of deputy commissioners on 12 October.
Other demands include holding the election based on the July Charter, ensuring equal opportunities for all parties in the election, making visible the fascist regime’s trial for repression, killings, and corruption, and banning political activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.
The four parties also include Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa).
Party sources said three more parties – Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, and Khelafat Majlish – will express solidarity with the fresh programmes announced by the four parties.
Earlier, the seven parties staged demonstrations in the first phase in Dhaka on 18 September, in divisional cities on 19 September, and in district towns and upazila headquarters on 26 September.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar announced the party’s programmes at a press conference at Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, the capital.
Parwar said their repeated calls for reforms had gone unheeded, leading the party to take to the streets. He added that the seven parties would ultimately participate in the coordinated movement.
Jamaat leaders Abdul Halim, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, and Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair were also present at the press briefing.
Earlier in the day, Islami Andolan Secretary General Yunus Ahmad announced the same programme at a separate press conference at the party’s central office in Paltan, the capital.
In a joint statement, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish leaders – Ameer Mamunul Haque and Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin Ahmad – endorsed the five-point demand and expressed solidarity with the programmes of Jamaat and Islami Andolan.
Later in the afternoon, Jagpa Vice-President Rashed Pradhan announced the party’s programme at its central office in Paltan, signalling unity among the opposition blocs.
