Jamaat, allies to stage indefinite sit-in in front of Jamuna from 16 Nov if 5-point demand not met
Jamaat warned that protests will continue until their demands are met.
Jamaat-e-Islami and its seven allied parties have warned of an indefinite sit-in in front of the chief adviser's residence, Jamuna, beginning on Sunday (16 November) if their five demands, including the implementation of the July Charter, are not met.
Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Mujibur Rahman, at a press conference today (12 November) at the Al Falah Auditorium in Dhaka, attended by senior leaders of the eight-party alliance, also announced that the coalition will be on the streets tomorrow to press for their demands and to "resist the acts of sabotage and subversive plots of fascist forces."
This will be followed by protest marches across all districts and metropolitan areas on Friday (14 November), urging the government to implement the July Charter and hold a national referendum before the next parliamentary election, he added.
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Jamaat warned that the protest will continue until their demands are met.
Their other demands are – issuing an order to implement the July Charter; adopting proportional representation in the next parliamentary system; ensuring equitable and credible elections; and taking visible action on accountability related to past political repression, killings and corruption.
At the same event, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the coalition's top leaders held a series of meetings following yesterday's rally and urgently sought an appointment with the chief adviser to discuss the ongoing political crisis.
They have been informed that they will receive confirmation of the meeting time by this afternoon, he said.
Porwar accused "fascist elements and their allies" of attempting to instigate fresh violence in the capital under the guise of a "lockdown."
Reaffirming the alliance's electoral stance, he said, "We want the election by February, before the upcoming Ramadan. We hope our meeting with the chief adviser will pave the way for a peaceful resolution grounded in the July Charter and the proposed referendum."
Jamaat-e-Islami and its seven allied Islamist parties, including Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, held a rally at Paltan in Dhaka yesterday, pressing home their demands.
Addressing the rally, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said, "Our demands are few, but very clear. The July Uprising must be recognised. And to recognise the revolution, the July Charter must be given a legal basis. Without this legal foundation, there is no possibility of holding any election."
The interim government on 3 November urged political parties to reach a unified decision on the referendum date within a week, a deadline that expired on 10 November, but no consensus has been reached.
According to media reports, as parties failed to find common ground, the interim government's Advisory Council may make a decision in its meeting tomorrow. It is reportedly working to issue an order to implement the July National Charter (constitutional amendment) and a subsequent ordinance to hold a referendum on it.
However, the Islamist bloc, led by Jamaat, appears adamant about its demands. Jamaat's chief vowed to continue the movement until those demands are met, saying, "We fought to end fascism, and we will continue to fight to materialise the people's aspirations."
Other Islamist parties are also rallying behind these demands.
Earlier on 6 November, the alliance of eight Islamist parties submitted a memorandum to Chief Adviser Prof Yunus outlining their five-point demand.
