Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has warned that Dhaka will turn into a “human sea” on 11 November if the government fails to meet their five-point demands, including a referendum before the national election.
Parwar issued the warning on Thursday after submitting a memorandum outlining the demands to the Chief Adviser of the interim government.
Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan received the memorandum on behalf of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
After accepting the memorandum, Adilur Rahman reiterated the Chief Adviser’s call for dialogue among all political parties, urging them to reach a consensus on the implementation process of the July Charter and to submit their recommendations to the government.
The memorandum was jointly submitted by eight Islamist political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami.
Their five-point charter includes, issuance of an order to hold a referendum before the national election and implementation of the July National Charter, ending political harassment and arrests during the interim government’s tenure, ensuring equal opportunities for all parties in the upcoming election, guaranteeing religious freedom for all citizens, allowing political parties to operate without obstruction.
Adilur Rahman Khan said the government has given political parties seven days to reach a collective decision through dialogue. “If they fail to do so,” he added, “the government will proceed with its own decision.”
Speaking to reporters, Parwar said there is still scope for dialogue on the July Charter and referendum issues.
“Jamaat has already initiated communication with the BNP to open the door for discussions,” he said, adding that a liaison committee has been formed for this purpose. He affirmed that Jamaat’s movement would continue until the five-point demands are met.
The eight like-minded Islamist parties, now engaged in a joint movement, said their united goal is to realise the five demands through continued street mobilisation.
Earlier, around 12:45pm, a delegation of the eight Islamist parties, led by Golam Parwar, went to the Chief Adviser’s official residence Jamuna to formally submit the memorandum.
The delegation included Hamidur Rahman Azad, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami; Ahmad Abdul Kader, secretary general of Khelafat Majlis; Rashed Pradhan, vice-president and spokesperson of the Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA); and Md Nizamul Haque, secretary of the Bangladesh Development Party (BDP), among other senior leaders.
However, as the delegation marched towards Jamuna, police blocked them near the Matsya Bhaban intersection around 12:30pm, preventing leaders and activists from the eight Islamist political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, from proceeding further.
