Jamaat-e-Islami will stage a protest rally in Dhaka on Thursday to press home its five-point demand, including holding the upcoming national election in February under the July National Charter. In line with earlier announcements, six other parties will also hold similar programmes at the same time with nearly identical demands.
Six other parties are: Islami Andolan Bangladesh, two factions of Khelafat Majlish, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa), Khelafat Andolan, and Nezame Islam Party have also declared similar protest rallies for Thursday.
Jamaat’s rally will begin after the Johor (midday) prayers. Jamaat’s programme is scheduled to start at 4:30pm with a rally in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, followed by a procession. Senior leaders, including Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, are expected to address the gathering.
Party leaders said the procession will move from Baitul Mukarram through Purana Paltan, the National Press Club and Matsya Bhaban before concluding at Shahbagh. The rally and procession are being organised by the Dhaka North and South city units of Jamaat.
The five demands include: introduction of the proportional representation (PR) system in both houses for the next national election; ensuring a level playing field for all political parties to guarantee free, fair and credible polls; visible justice for atrocities, killings and corruption under the “fascist” regime; and imposing complete ban on political activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, described by Jamaat as “allies of autocratic fascists.”
In support of these demands, Jamaat announced protest rallies in all divisional cities and in every district and upazila on September 26.
Their demands include full implementation of the July Charter, holding the next national election on its basis, introduction of the proportional representation (PR system) in both houses of national parliament, and ensuring a level playing field for all parties.
