IAB demands PR elections, state reforms
Staff Reporter :
Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) organised a massive rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday, drawing hundreds of thousands of supporters from various political and religious groups.
Titled “Protest against Conspiracies against the Nation and Islam and Demand for Reforms, Justice, and PR Elections”, the event marked a renewed and vocal demand for sweeping constitutional reforms and a transition to a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system.
The rally concluded with the announcement of a 16-point declaration, presented by IAB Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman.
Among the key demands were: reinstating “Absolute Faith in Allah” as a constitutional principle, implementing PR-based elections in both parliamentary houses, launching a “July Charter” aligned with the 2024 uprising’s goals, and undertaking extensive reforms to dismantle authoritarian structures and promote transparency.
Other demands included: disqualification of loan defaulters and criminals from elections, restructuring of the civil administration, public disclosure of bilateral agreements with India, recovery of smuggled wealth, and ending harassment and politically motivated cases.
The declaration also urged national unity to resist perceived anti-Islam and anti-state conspiracies and called for the upholding of Islamic values in state affairs.
Addressing the rally, IAB leader and Pir of Charmonai, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, said the aspirations of the July 2024 uprising – to establish a just, corruption-free Bangladesh – remain unfulfilled. He asserted that a PR-based electoral system is the only way to ensure equitable representation and prevent any single party from dominating state power unjustly.
“This is no longer Islami Andolan’s demand alone; it has become a collective demand shared by all major political and religious communities,” said Pir Saheb Charmonai. He added that efforts are underway to build a broad coalition of Islamic and patriotic political parties ahead of the next general election, expressing optimism that such unity could translate into political power.
“We have shed blood repeatedly without achieving success, primarily due to poor leadership choices. In the past 54 years, many parties have governed, but no Islamic party has held power. This time, there is growing public expectation for unity among Islamists,” he said.
He reiterated the need to unify all Islamic votes under a single ballot, suggesting that this could lead to Islamists emerging as the principal political force in Bangladesh. “If we contest unitedly, the governance of the state could soon be in our hands, InshaAllah,” he declared.
Pir Saheb also criticised the 1972 Constitution, labelling it “foreign-influenced” and blaming it for fostering authoritarianism, corruption, and political decline. He demanded justice for victims of state violence, particularly those killed during the July 2024 protests, and called for action against those responsible for abductions, extrajudicial killings, and the looting of public resources.
The rally was notable for its broad coalition of support, with leaders from diverse religious and political backgrounds sharing the stage. These included representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami, Khelafat Majlish, Hindu Mahajot, Christian and Buddhist organisations, and youth leader Nurul Haque Nur.
Among the prominent attendees were Gobinda Chandra Pramanik of the Hindu Mahajot; Dayal Kumar Barua of the Bodhigyan Bhavana Kendra; and Nirmal Rozario of the Bangladesh Christian Association. Senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Professor Mujibur Rahman and Professor Mia Golam Porwar were also present, along with Maulana Musa bin Izhar (Nezame Islam Party), Dr. Ahmad Abdul Quader (Khilafat Majlish), and Maulana Sakhawat Hossain Raji (Islami Oikya Jote).
Additional figures from newer political movements such as Muhammad Akhtar Hossain (NCP), Sarjis Alam (NCP North), and Mojibur Rahman Manju (AB Party), also expressed solidarity. Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gana Odhikar Parishad, lent further prominence to the event.
The rally venue and surrounding areas – including Shahbagh, Paltan, and Kakrail – were filled to capacity by morning, well ahead of the official start time of 2 PM.
Pir Saheb Charmonai reaffirmed IAB’s commitment to building a just and inclusive state rooted in Islamic and moral values. He pledged to protect the rights of workers, farmers, expatriates, minorities, and women while advocating for political neutrality and good governance.
The scale and diversity of participation in the rally underscored growing momentum behind calls for electoral reform and a new political direction in Bangladesh’s future.