Followers of Jamaat, 7 other parties gather at Paltan ahead of mass rally
Top leaders from all eight political parties are expected to address the rally
Leaders and activisits of eight Islamic parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, are marching towards Paltan in Dhaka to join a grand rally scheduled to begin at 2pm today (11 November) with five demands, including the issuance of an implementation order for the July Charter and the holding of a national referendum on the order.
By 1:30pm, a stage had been set up on a truck at the Paltan intersection, while processions carrying party flags continued to arrive from various parts of the city. Party leaders expect hundreds of thousands of supporters to join the gathering.
Top leaders from all eight political parties are expected to address the rally, which marks a major show of unity among opposition factions pushing for a set of common demands.
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The seven allied parties of the Jamaat‑e‑Islami are Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis (two factions), Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa) and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP).
The party's five-point demand includes holding a referendum through the July Charter implementation order before organising national elections in February, introducing the PR system in both houses via a referendum, ensuring a level playing field for free and fair elections, delivering visible justice for oppression, atrocities, mass killings, and corruption by the fallen "fascist government," and banning the activities of the Jatiyo Party and the 14-party alliance, terming them "allies of dictatorship."
Earlier on 30 October, the eight parties submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser with their five demands including the implementation of the July Charter and holding a referendum.
At the time, they set a 10 November deadline and said they would hold a mass rally on 11 November if their demands were not met.
Following the submission, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said top representatives from eight political parties jointly submitted the memorandum to the chief adviser.
Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan received the memorandum on behalf of the chief adviser.
Porwar at the time urged the Advisory Council to take swift decisions regarding their five demands.
Issuing a warning, the senior Jamaat leader said if their demands were not met, "Dhaka will look very different on 11 November."
"Before the capital becomes resounding with the footsteps of millions at the grand rally on 11 November, we urge the interim government to accept our five demands and show respect to the people's aspiration expressed in July."
