Eight political parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, have announced a three-day nationwide protest programme, demanding implementation of the July National Charter and a referendum before the upcoming parliamentary election.
The announcement came at a press conference on Wednesday at the Al-Falah Auditorium in the capital’s Paltan area.
Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman declared the programme and warned that if their demands are not fulfilled, they would stage an indefinite sit-in in front of the Chief Adviser’s Office.
Prior to the announcement, senior leaders of the eight-party held a closed-door meeting to finalise their decisions. The participating parties include Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Development Party, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA).
Professor Mujibur Rahman said that on Thursday (13 November), leaders and activists of the eight parties would take to the streets across the country “to resist subversive and fascist forces.” He also urged all anti-fascist groups to join the demonstrations.
On Friday (14 November), they plan to hold protest marches across the country at district and metropolitan levels to press for their five-point demand.
The following Sunday (16 November), at 11am, top leaders of the eight parties are scheduled to meet to assess the progress of the movement. A press conference will follow at 12:30pm at Al-Falah Auditorium. “If our demands remain unmet by then,” Professor Rahman cautioned, “we will announce an indefinite sit-in in front of the Chief Adviser’s Office.”
The announcement follows a large rally held on Tuesday in Paltan, where the eight-party, which has been holding demonstrations for the past four months, reiterated their firm position on holding a national referendum before the next general election.
The leaders warned that if the July Charter is not given legal status through a referendum, no election would be allowed to take place in the country.
At the rally, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman declared, “Those who do not accept the July Uprising will not see an election in 2026. Recognition of the July Revolution and legal validation of the July Charter are essential prerequisites for the next election.”
The eight-party’s five-point demands are – implementation of the July National Charter through an executive order and holding a national referendum by November; introduction of a proportional representation (PR) system in both houses in the next national election; assurance of free and fair elections ensuring equal opportunity for all political parties; visible justice for the alleged oppression, genocide, and corruption under the Awami League government; a ban on the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.
