Islami Andolan Bangladesh Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim demanded a national referendum on whether the next parliamentary election should be held under the Proportional Representation (PR) system.

Speaking at a rally and procession organized in front of the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Thursday, he said the demand includes holding the election under the July Charter, ensuring a level playing field, bringing perpetrators of genocide and their collaborators to justice, and banning their activities during trial.

Several surveys have shown that the majority of the people favor PR. We don’t want to continue street agitations over this issue. A referendum should be held and the people’s verdict should be accepted. If the public rejects PR, we will no longer press the demand, said Faizul Karim.

He alleged that the BNP lacks confidence in the people.

If BNP trusts the people, what is their problem with PR? They can secure 90% of the vote and 270 seats to run the country alone. We have no objection to that. But why is BNP afraid of trusting the people? he questioned.

On the issue of a joint movement by Islamic parties, Faizul Karim clarified, “Joint movement means different parties running separate movements on the same demands. It does not happen under anyone’s leadership. Some are wrongly portraying it as being led by a particular party, which is not correct.”

After the rally, Islami Andolan brought out a protest procession that marched towards Paltan intersection before returning to Baitul Mukarram, where the program concluded with prayers.

Faizul Karim also announced that similar rallies and processions will be held on Friday in divisional cities as well as in Dhaka’s Badda and Dholaikhal areas to press the same demands.