The Jamaat-e-Islami and several other like-minded parties have decided to take to the streets to realise their five-point demand that includes holding the election on the basis of the July Charter and under the proportional representation system.
Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) and Khelafat Majlis yesterday separately announced the three-day programme starting from September 18, following Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis’s announcement on Sunday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. The parties will hold separate rallies and processions in Dhaka on September 18, processions in all divisional cities on September 19 and processions in all districts and upazilas on September 26.
Their demands also include banning the activities of Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, introducing proportional representation in both houses of parliament, ensuring a level playing field to guarantee free and fair polls and bringing to justice those responsible for killings and corruption under the previous government.
While announcing the protest programme through a press conference at its Paltan central office, IAB leaders said they are announcing simultaneous protest activities across the country.
Jamaat leaders, however, said that although they have announced a similar programme, it will be observed separately.
While announcing the movement at its central office at the capital’s Moghbazar, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said the party has been urging the authorities to take necessary steps to ensure a free, fair, neutral and intimidation-free acceptable election.
But it is yet to see any effective steps.
Subsequently, there is no alternative to a mass movement to secure those demands, he said, adding that it has not yet been decided how many parties will participate or whether there will be any simultaneous movement at all.
“Since the demands are the same and those who agree on PR are announcing programmes from their respective platforms, they cannot be called simultaneous movements yet. No such decision has been made.”
Jamaat has been holding discussions with all parties who support PR, Taher said.
“We are placing small demands verbally before the government. If the government neither takes any decision on this issue nor invites discussions, then gradually more programmes will be announced.”
When asked whether announcing simultaneous movements by the like-minded political parties could lead to an electoral alliance among them, Taher said, “The question of an electoral alliance is a matter of time. Discussions are ongoing on whether parties that uphold the spirit of July can reach an understanding and contest the election together.”
When asked whether street movements over their demands might delay the election in February, he said: “There are still five months left before the election. Within this period, it is possible to meet the demands, give legal basis to the July Charter, and, if necessary, hold a referendum. All of this can be done within the timeframe.”
In reply to a question on why the government is not accepting Jamaat’s demands, Taher said, “The government itself can best explain its thinking. There may also be pressure from some political parties so that they do not accept.”
While announcing its programme, IAB Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said that the country’s Islamist political parties are close to forging an alliance.
Ahead of the upcoming national election, “patriotic forces” are nearing an understanding so that all their votes go into one ballot box, he said.
While announcing its programme through a press conference from its central office at the capital’s Paltan, Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Ahmed Abdul Quader said that if the government does not take clear steps to meet their demands, tougher programmes will be announced later.
Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday said the threats for a stronger movement are part of a plan to harm the nation by creating a disastrous situation.
“An Islamist party has said in a press conference that it will launch a vigorous movement if its demand for PR is not met. This, we believe, is a well-planned master plan that will benefit no one.”
Over the past 16-17 years, the BNP and many other political parties, including all Islamist political parties, have fought for democracy, but they did not raise the issue of PR at that time, he said.