Jamaat-e-Islami is set to stage a massive national rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday, 19 July, in what party leaders describe as the largest gathering in its history.
This will be Jamaat’s first political event at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. In preparation, the party is conducting daily processions, public meetings and mass outreach campaigns across the country.
Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair told reporters that the party has arranged 10,000 buses—excluding launches and trains—to transport supporters to the capital. He said over one million leaders and activists are expected to attend the rally, with around 6,000 volunteers to be deployed for crowd control and internal security.
To coordinate logistics and ensure a peaceful gathering, a seven-member Jamaat delegation led by Zubair met senior officials of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by DMP Additional Commissioner (Crimes and Operations) Nazrul Islam.
Zubair said the rally will be held to press home the party’s seven-point demands, and that the delegation had sought police cooperation for its smooth conduct. “We have requested full cooperation from the police, and they have assured us of necessary support at every step,” he said after the meeting.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s demands include level playing field before national election, introduction of proportional representation, voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis, trial of killings during the 1971 war and July uprising, implementation of the July Charter for democratic reforms and rehabilitation of those killed or injured in the July movement.
Asked about potential threats or disruptions amid the current political tensions, Zubair said, “We are not sensing any such risks at the moment. However, our local units, especially Dhaka city Jamaat, are staying cautious and alert.”
The delegation also included Jamaat central working committee members Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud and Dr Rezaul Karim, Majlis-e-Shura member Md Delawar Hossain, and Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation Secretary Advocate Atiqur Rahman.