Jamaat, IAB hold rallies demanding PR-based polls
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) on Friday staged coordinated demonstrations across the country, pressing for the adoption of a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system and four other sweeping political reforms.
The rallies, described by organizers as a “simultaneous national movement,” were held in districts, upazilas, and major urban centers.
The parties said the mobilization was a continuation of the July mass uprising, stressing that the movement’s aim was not only to dislodge an authoritarian government but to fundamentally restructure Bangladesh’s political framework.
“The blood spilled in July was not for a cosmetic change of rulers—it was for ending authoritarianism once and for all,” an IAB leader declared
at a Dhaka rally. “Only systemic reform, not the first-past-the-post system, can secure people’s rights.”
Jamaat leaders echoed the sentiment, framing the struggle as part of a broader push to institutionalize justice and prevent future monopolization of power. Addressing a gathering in Sylhet, a senior Jamaat figure said, “PR is the only way to ensure that every citizen’s vote matters, and that no single party can dominate the nation again.”
The Five Demands At the conclusion of the rallies, the two parties jointly reiterated their five-point charter of demands directed at the government and the Election Commission:
Legal recognition and implementation of the July Charter, encapsulating the demands and spirit of the uprising.
Justice for victims of state-led violence, including accountability for recent mass killings during political protests.
Prosecution of those complicit in authoritarianism, with a suspension of political activity during trials to guarantee impartiality.
Assurance of a level playing field in electoral politics, including fair access to media, campaign resources, and security.
Adoption of the Proportional Representation system in the upcoming national election to ensure a genuinely representative parliament.
Political Significance Analysts said the joint actions by IAB and Jamaat suggest growing alignment among Islamist and opposition groups on structural reforms, particularly on the PR issue, which has gained momentum since the fall of the Awami League government last year.
The coordinated rallies also reflect rising pressure on the Election Commission to embrace electoral overhauls, with demands shifting away from leadership changes to systemic safeguards against authoritarianism.
Whether the interim government and the Election Commission will accept these demands remains uncertain, but the message from Friday’s demonstrations was clear: calls for a PR-based election and recognition of the July Charter are emerging as central tests for Bangladesh’s political transition.