A whole bunch of hundreds of supporters of Bangladesh’s largest Islamist celebration took half in a rally within the capital, Dhaka, demanding an overhaul of the electoral system.
The South Asian nation is anticipated to move to the polls subsequent 12 months because it stands at a crossroads after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
On Saturday, Jamaat-e-Islami positioned a seven-point demand on the nation’s interim authorities headed by Muhammad Yunus to make sure a free, truthful and peaceable election, justice for all mass killings, important reforms and the proclamation and implementation of a constitution involving final 12 months’s mass rebellion.
The celebration additionally stated it desires the introduction of a proportional illustration system within the election.
1000’s of supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami spent the evening on the Dhaka College campus earlier than the rally.
On Saturday morning, braving the sweltering warmth, they continued to stream in direction of Suhrawardy Udyan, a historic website the place the Pakistani military surrendered to a joint drive of India and Bangladesh on December 16, 1971, ending the nine-month conflict.
“We’re right here for a brand new Bangladesh, the place Islam can be the tenet of governance, the place good and sincere individuals will rule the nation, and there might be no corruption,” stated Iqbal Hossain, 40.
“We are going to sacrifice our lives, if needed, for this trigger.”
‘No discrimination’
Some demonstrators wore T-shirts bearing the celebration’s brand, others sported headbands inscribed with its identify, whereas many displayed metallic badges formed like a scale – the celebration’s electoral image.
Many younger supporters of their 20s and 30s have been additionally current.
“Below Jamaat-e-Islami, this nation can have no discrimination. All individuals can have their rights. As a result of we observe the trail of the holy e-book – Quran,” stated Mohidul Morsalin Sayem, a 20-year-old pupil.
“If all of the Islamist events be part of palms, quickly, no one will be capable of take energy from us.”
The celebration’s chief, Shafiqur Rahman, stated the nation’s battle in 2024 was to remove “fascism”, however this time, there can be one other struggle in opposition to corruption and extortion.
“How will the long run Bangladesh appear to be? There might be one other struggle … We are going to do no matter is important and win that struggle,” Rahman stated.
After Bangladesh’s independence, Jamaat, which sided with Pakistan throughout Bangladesh’s conflict of independence in 1971, was banned.
It later re-emerged and registered its finest electoral efficiency in 1991 when it secured 18 seats.
The celebration additionally joined a coalition authorities in 2001, however did not construct lasting standard assist.
Whereas Prime Minister Hasina was in energy from 2009 till she was toppled in student-led protests final 12 months and fled to India, high leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami have been both executed or jailed on expenses of crimes in opposition to humanity and different severe crimes in 1971.
Final month, the Supreme Court docket restored the celebration’s registration, paving the way in which for its participation in elections slated for subsequent April.
In an announcement on X, Hasina’s Awami League celebration reacted sharply to Yunus’s authorities permitting Saturday’s rally.
The assertion stated the transfer “marks a stark betrayal with the nationwide conscience and constitutes a brazen act of undermining hundreds of thousands of individuals – useless and alive – who fought in opposition to the evil axis [in 1971]”.
The Yunus-led administration has banned the Awami League, and Hasina has been in exile in India since final August. She faces expenses of crimes in opposition to humanity.
