Lots of of 1000’s of supporters of Bangladesh’s largest Islamist occasion took half in a rally within the capital, Dhaka, demanding an overhaul of the electoral system.
The South Asian nation is anticipated to go 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, honest 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 occasion additionally mentioned 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 power of India and Bangladesh on December 16, 1971, ending the nine-month warfare.
“We’re right here for a brand new Bangladesh, the place Islam can be the guideline of governance, the place good and trustworthy folks will rule the nation, and there can be no corruption,” mentioned Iqbal Hossain, 40.
“We are going to sacrifice our lives, if essential, for this trigger.”
‘No discrimination’
Some demonstrators wore T-shirts bearing the occasion’s emblem, others sported headbands inscribed with its title, whereas many displayed metallic badges formed like a scale – the occasion’s electoral image.
Many younger supporters of their 20s and 30s had been additionally current.
“Underneath Jamaat-e-Islami, this nation can have no discrimination. All folks can have their rights. As a result of we comply with the trail of the holy ebook – Quran,” mentioned Mohidul Morsalin Sayem, a 20-year-old pupil.
“If all of the Islamist events be part of fingers, quickly, no person will be capable of take energy from us.”
The occasion’s chief, Shafiqur Rahman, mentioned the nation’s wrestle in 2024 was to get rid of “fascism”, however this time, there can be one other combat in opposition to corruption and extortion.
“How will the longer term Bangladesh seem like? There can be one other combat … We are going to do no matter is important and win that combat,” Rahman mentioned.
After Bangladesh’s independence, Jamaat, which sided with Pakistan throughout Bangladesh’s warfare of independence in 1971, was banned.
It later re-emerged and registered its greatest electoral efficiency in 1991 when it secured 18 seats.
The occasion additionally joined a coalition authorities in 2001, however did not construct lasting common help.
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 had been both executed or jailed on prices of crimes in opposition to humanity and different critical crimes in 1971.
Final month, the Supreme Courtroom restored the occasion’s registration, paving the best way for its participation in elections slated for subsequent April.
In an announcement on X, Hasina’s Awami League occasion reacted sharply to Yunus’s authorities permitting Saturday’s rally.
The assertion mentioned the transfer “marks a stark betrayal with the nationwide conscience and constitutes a brazen act of undermining thousands and 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 prices of crimes in opposition to humanity.