The political arena is bracing for fresh heat as the Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and five like-minded parties have moved to begin simultaneous movements this week for a four-point demand, including immediate implementation of the July Charter.
According to IAB, the other like-minded parties are Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Amar Bangladesh Party, Khelafat Majlish, and Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. Their three other demands include banning the politics of Jatiya Party as “Awami League’s accomplice and India’s agent”, implementing the proportional representation system for an upper house in the upcoming national election, and creating a level playing field for the polls.
Top leaders of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and IAB told The Daily Star that the National Citizen Party agreed to join their movement.
However, NCP’s Senior Joint Convener and Chief of Political Liaison Ariful Islam Adib in a message told this newspaper that the party has not yet made any decision regarding joining any alliance or simultaneous movements.
He said the NCP held informal discussions with several political parties over its demand for a legal basis of the July Charter and the framing of a new constitution through a constituent assembly election. “We want the PR system for the upper house only,” Ariful added.
He also said the NCP will support the demand for banning Jatiya Party’s organisational activities since it is considered “an accomplice in terrorism and fascism”.
IAB spokesperson Gazi Ataur Rahman told The Daily Star that each of the like-minded parties will announce their programmes as part of the simultaneous movements in separate press conferences. He said the IAB will hold its press conference at its headquarters tomorrow.
“The like-minded parties will first hold the programmes in Dhaka. We will announce tougher programmes in phases and gradually we will spread our programmes to division, district, upazila and union levels,” he added.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, in a statement yesterday, said it will hold its press conference today at its central office in Purana Paltan, where its Ameer Muhammad Mamunul Haque will announce its programme.
Jalaluddin, secretary general of the party, told The Daily Star they will also toughen their programmes gradually to force the government to meet their demands.
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said if the government holds the election without fulfilling their demands, the polls will not be able to meet the people’s expectations.
Asked whether they would join the election if the government does not accept their demands, he said they would contest the election only after having their demands realised.
Besides Jamaat, IAB and several others, NCP was also vocal in the dialogue of the National Consensus Commission on major reforms, including upper house election under the PR system.