Jamaat-e-Islami, along with seven like-minded parties, has announced a protest rally and procession in Dhaka on Monday demanding proportional representation (PR) in parliamentary elections, legal recognition of the July National Charter through a November referendum, and four other demands.

The programme was announced at a press conference on Sunday at the National Press Club by Ahmed Abdul Quader, Secretary General of the Khelafat Majlis. Present on behalf of Jamaat was Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar.

In addition to Monday’s rally in the capital, the parties have called for protest gatherings and processions in all divisional cities on October 25 and in district towns on October 27.

Parwar said, “The implementation order of the July Charter has not yet been issued, and work to hold a referendum to provide legal backing to the charter is pending. There is no information yet on when the implementation order and referendum will take place. This is why the parties are carrying out field programmes despite the charter being signed.”

Earlier, the same parties staged two rounds of programmes in September and October demanding similar issues. Jamaat had then been joined by Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Nizam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA).

This time, the Bangladesh Development Party has joined the coalition, bringing the total number of parties to eight.

The parties’ main demands include issuing the implementation order of the July National Charter and holding a referendum by November, introducing the PR system in both houses or the upper house in the next general election, ensuring a level playing field for free, fair, and acceptable elections, making visible justice for all atrocities, killings, and corruption by the so-called fascist government, and banning the activities of the National Party and the 14-party alliance, whom they term as accomplices of dictatorship.

Ahmed Abdul Quader of Khelafat Majlis warned that if their demands are not met by October 27, the coalition will call for a larger nationwide movement.