Islami Andolan calls for electoral reform, proportional representation at Dhaka rally

The Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) on Friday unveiled a 16-point declaration at a rally in Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan, calling for sweeping electoral reforms, proportional representation, and urgent restructuring of the state to safeguard national sovereignty and uphold Islamic values.

Presided over by the party's Ameer, Mufti Rezaul Karim, the rally brought together leaders from various political and religious groups, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, and the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party).

Positioning itself against what organisers described as anti-Islamic and anti-state conspiracies, the rally also promoted religious harmony and interfaith solidarity. Representatives from Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian communities joined the gathering, presenting a rare display of cross-community engagement.

Political observers noted that the rally's diverse turnout signalled an emerging convergence among smaller parties and faith-based groups ahead of the national polls. They said shared demands for justice, transparency, and reform are coalescing into a new political unity, which may impact the upcoming polls.

NCP Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam, who attended the rally, declared his party's solidarity with IAB. In a Facebook post, he wrote, "Expression of solidarity by the NCP with the Islami Andolan Bangladesh's national mass rally of hundreds of thousands…No compromise on justice and fundamental reforms before the election."

Key demands

The Islami Andolan's demands include the introduction of a proportional representation system in both proposed chambers of parliament, a neutral environment ahead of the next national election, and the restoration of "absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah" as a fundamental constitutional principle, alongside equality, human dignity, and social justice.

The party also demanded immediate steps to counter anti-Islamic actions and conspiracies it claims threaten the country's sovereignty. It called for national unity against imperialist and hegemonic forces, and for local government elections at all levels prior to the national polls, to be held under a non-partisan caretaker administration.

Addressing ongoing political and economic concerns, the party urged the restructuring of the state apparatus to ensure a level playing field for elections. It stressed the need for reforms to prevent corrupt individuals and authoritarian forces from capturing state power and weakening constitutional institutions through partisanship.

The 16-point declaration also included calls for fair trials for crimes committed by what it called the "fallen fascist regime", increased diplomatic efforts to repatriate fugitives, and visible initiatives to recover laundered money.

The IAB urged authorities to publish all agreements signed with India and revoke any deal deemed detrimental to national interest. It demanded the disqualification of corrupt individuals, loan defaulters, and criminals from contesting elections.

It warned that announcing the national election schedule under pressure from any domestic or foreign political force, without ensuring equal opportunity for all parties, would be unacceptable.

Additional demands included an end to bribery, corruption, and public harassment, as well as the withdrawal of politically motivated or false cases. The party also called for legal steps to prevent mob violence and political unrest.

"To safeguard the country's independence, sovereignty, and communal harmony, we call for the application of Islamic principles at all levels of state," said an IAB leader during the rally.

Participation of leaders

Several senior leaders of Islamist political parties also attended the rally, including Mujibur Rahman, nayeb-e-ameer, Mia Golam Parwar, secretary general and Rafiqul Islam Khan, assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Leaders from other Islamic parties included Maulana Musa bin Izhar, secretary general of Nezame Islam Party, Ahmad Abdul Quader, secretary general of Khelafat Majlish, Maulana Sakhawat Hossain Raji, secretary general of Islami Oikya Jote, Jalal Uddin, secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Yusuf Sadiq Haqqani, secretary general of Khelafat Andolan Bangladesh.

Other than NCP's Sarjis, Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the party, also joined the programme. Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad and Mojibur Rahman Monju, president of AB Party, also joined.

Among the minority community leaders who attended the event were Govinda Chandra Pramanik, secretary general of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote, Doyal Kumar Barua, president of Bodhigyan Bhabanakendra, and Nirmal Rozario, president of the Bangladesh Christian Association and the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Association.