A delegation of eight Islamist parties, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, arrived at Jamuna— the official residence of the Chief Adviser— to formally submit a memorandum pressing for five key demands, including a November referendum and the implementation order for the July National Charter ahead of the national election.
At around 12:45 p.m. on Thursday (November 6), Porwar and the delegation reached Jamuna. Other members included Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, Khilafat Majlis Secretary General Ahmad Abdul Qader, JAGPA Vice President and party spokesperson Rashed Prodhan, Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) Secretary Muhammad Nizamul Haque, and top leaders from other allied parties.
Earlier in the day, leaders and activists from eight Islamist parties— including Jamaat— set out toward Jamuna to hand over the memorandum. However, police blocked them in front of the Matsya Bhaban intersection around 12:30 p.m. As of the filing of this report, the rest of the marchers remained stationed at the site, blocking the road and causing a long traffic jam.
According to their pre-announced program, activists began gathering in the morning at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar and the Paltan area. After 11 a.m., processions from different parts of Dhaka North and South converged at Purana Paltan for a brief rally. Following speeches from senior leaders, the eight-party alliance began a march toward Jamuna at 12:05 p.m.
Meanwhile, police, RAB, and other security agencies remained on high alert surrounding the joint demonstration of the eight Islamist parties. Security was tightened in Shahbagh, Kakrail, Paltan, and around the Chief Adviser’s residence.
Besides Jamaat, the other parties include Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, JAGPA, and the Bangladesh Development Party. Their demands include issuing the implementation order for the July National Charter and holding a referendum on it by November, introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in both houses for the upcoming national election, ensuring a level playing field for all parties, visible accountability for “the fascist regime’s repression, mass killings, and corruption,” and banning the activities of the “autocratic regime’s accomplices”— the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.
Earlier, in February, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad announced that the party would formally submit a memorandum demanding a referendum before the national election. He reiterated this on Wednesday after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon.
“We will present our demands in writing to the Chief Adviser on Thursday. These demands are very clear— the referendum must be held before the election, and on a separate day,” Hamidur Rahman said.
Eight Islamist Parties Reach Jamuna to Submit Five-Point Memo Ahead of Election
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