Staff Reporter :
For the first time in its history, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is set to hold a large-scale national rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka this Saturday, to press home a seven-point charter of demands.
The rally, scheduled for 2:00pm, is being billed by party leaders as a “historic mass gathering,” with the expectation of drawing more than a million participants from across the country.
Jamaat’s leaders claim that a groundswell of support is already visible. “We are receiving an overwhelming response from the public. Just from our preliminary count, at least 10,000 buses have been arranged to transport people to Dhaka,” said Nurul Islam Bulbul, the party’s Dhaka South City unit chief. “And that’s not including trains and launches. We believe this will be the largest gathering in our party’s history.”
The seven-point demands forming the basis of the rally include: justice for the August 5 and other alleged mass killings of 2024; comprehensive reforms in all tiers of the state; full implementation of the historic July Charter and Declaration; rehabilitation for families of those killed or injured during the July Uprising; national elections under the Proportional Representation (PR) system to better reflect the people’s will; mechanisms to ensure voting rights for expatriates; and establishment of a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.
A festive mood appears to be building in the lead-up to the rally, particularly among Jamaat supporters. Large-scale publicity campaigns have been launched in cities, towns, and even neighborhoods across Bangladesh. Rallies, marches, and community gatherings are being held regularly to mobilize support. The party has reportedly reserved thousands of buses nationwide, including 1,500 from the northern districts alone, along with a special train from Chattogram to Dhaka on the night of July 18. Bookings have also been made on river routes.
“Already a festive atmosphere is developing in Dhaka,” said Nurul Islam Bulbul. “We’ve officially invited many like-minded parties. The invitation process for BNP is ongoing, and we’ll disclose details at the appropriate time.”
According to party insiders, the rally may also serve as a launching pad for a broader alliance of right-leaning and ideologically aligned parties. Several parties sympathetic to the July uprising-including Islami Andolon Bangladesh, National Citizen Party (NCP), and the Gana Odhikar Parishad-have already received invitations, with senior leaders expected to attend.
Jamaat’s Secretary General, Professor Mia Golam Parwar, described the rally as a tribute to the sacrifices made by the youth and people during last year’s political upheaval. “The 2024 uprising was a milestone in our national history. This rally aims to honor that spirit and push forward the popular demands for democratic restoration. We urge all patriotic citizens to join us in this national endeavor.”
