Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has warned of stern action if the government fails to meet the party’s five-point demand by November 11.
He issued the warning while speaking to reporters on Thursday after submitting a memorandum to the chief adviser in support of the demands.
Top leaders from the eight-party alliance were also present.
Porwar said: “The July National Charter must be implemented immediately and a referendum must be held. Otherwise, a different situation will emerge in Dhaka on November 11 with the presence of hundreds of thousands of people. The government should take steps in this regard beforehand.”
He further said: "We are always ready to assist the government in times of national crisis. We hope they will consider the greater national interest.”
Porwar explained that the delegation had gone directly to submit the memorandum to the chief adviser.
“As he was attending a meeting of the Advisory Council, the director general of his office requested us to hand it over to him, but we refused. We said at least one adviser should come as his representative. Then, Adviser for Industries Adilur Rahman, arrived and received the memorandum. He thanked us and assured that it would be conveyed to the chief adviser,” he added.
Earlier, from 11am, leaders and activists of the eight-party alliance gathered at Paltan intersection in Dhaka after marching from various parts of the city.
The top leaders addressed the gathering before leading a procession of several thousand people towards the chief adviser’s office. When police set up barricades at Jamuna Road near Matsya Bhaban, senior leaders proceeded to the office to submit the memorandum while the activists waited at the intersection.
The five-point charter includes:
- Issuing an order to implement the July National Charter and holding a referendum on it by November
- Introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in both houses in the next national election;
- Ensuring a level playing field for free, fair, and credible elections;
- Bringing visible justice for the “fascist” government’s oppression, killings, and corruption; and
- Banning the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-Party Alliance.
The eight Islamic parties in the alliance are Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party and Bangladesh Development Party.
