Police have intercepted a procession of eight Islamic political parties marching towards the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka to submit a memorandum demanding a referendum and the implementation of the July National Charter before the next national election.
The procession was stopped at the Matsya Bhaban intersection Thursday noon.
However, top leaders of the alliance continued on to the Chief Adviser’s Office to deliver the memorandum.
The delegation includes Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar, Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Khelafat Majlis Nayeb-e-Ameer Ahmad Ali Qasemi, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Vice President Rashed Prodhan.
Earlier around 12:15pm, a large number of leaders and activists had started marching from Paltan intersection towards the National Press Club, chanting slogans in favour of their five-point demands, including holding a referendum in November.
As per the pre-announced program, leaders and activists from eight parties — Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Nezam-E-Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), and Bangladesh Development Party — gathered at Purana Paltan after marching from Shapla Chattar. They held a brief rally before beginning their procession towards the chief adviser’s residence.
Their five-point demands include implementing the July National Charter through a referendum by November, introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in the next national election, ensuring a level playing field for all parties, initiating visible trials of alleged crimes and corruption by the previous government, and banning the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.