Eight parties to hold Dhaka rally for five-point demand

The rally, initiated by several Islamist parties, will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

The participating parties are Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Development Party, and Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA).

Leaders of the eight parties held a coordination meeting on Monday (10 November) at the Islami Andolan Bangladesh office in Paltan to finalise preparations.

After the meeting, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad said they expect a huge turnout. “We expect not thousands, but hundreds of thousands to attend. If the government understands the people’s will, this rally will send a strong message,” he said.

Azad said the ongoing movement has entered its fifth phase, following the submission of a memorandum on 6 November. He described the initiative as a joint platform to achieve “fundamental public demands,” not a political alliance.

He added that the programme’s duration was kept short to minimise public inconvenience, running strictly from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

On relations with the BNP, Azad said, “BNP has said they will not respond to Jamaat’s call. But if they call us, we will respond. We will continue our efforts through dialogue and movement.”

He also said discussions under the Consensus Commission had produced a charter, but its implementation now remains key.

Regarding the referendum issue, Azad noted that the provision once existed in the constitution but was later removed, alleging that opposing its restoration amounts to supporting undemocratic practices.

Organisers said further programmes will be announced to push for the five-point demand.