Eight like-minded parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on Wednesday announced to stage demonstrations across the country on Thursday to resist what they described as the ‘subversive and destructive activities of fascist forces’.
They will also stage protest processions at district and metropolitan levels across the country on November 14 to press home their five-point demand, including issuing an order to hold a referendum before the national election over the July National Charter.
The announcement came at a press conference on Wednesday where Prof Mujibur Rahman, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP, announced the programmes on behalf of the eight parties.
Earlier, a joint meeting of the eight parties, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, was held at 11 am at the central office of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
The seven other parties are Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, National Democratic Party (JAGPA) and Bangladesh Development Party.
They called upon all patriotic and anti-fascist groups to join them on the streets.
They also announced that a meeting of the top leaders of the eight parties will be held at 11:00 am on November 16 which will followed by a press conference at 12:30 pm at the Al-Falah Auditorium.
The eight like-minded parties threatened to go for an indefinite sit-in programme in front of Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna, if their demands are not met.
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They urged the people, law enforcement agencies, transport owners and traffic police to extend their full cooperation in making their announced programmes a success.
The eight parties' other demands are introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in the upper or both houses, ensuring a level playing field for all parties during the election, ensuring visible justice for all acts of repression, killings, and corruption committed by the previous government and banning the activities of Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.