11-party bloc holds protest rally
Staff Reporter :
With elected candidates from various parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, set to take their oaths on Tuesday, the party on Monday held a protest rally in the capital, alleging widespread violence and repression following the parliamentary elections.
The demonstration began at 4:30pm at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Organisers said leaders and activists of the 11-party electoral alliance joined the programme under Jamaat’s leadership. Additional members of law enforcement agencies were deployed in the area surrounding the mosque.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar addressed the rally, warning against what he described as ignoring the people’s mandate on the basis of parliamentary majority.
He alleged irregularities in the announcement of results and called on the Election Commission to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation.
“The aspirations of the people have been undermined by manipulation, irregularities and post-election violence,” he said, adding that incidents of attacks and repression after the vote were reminiscent of authoritarian practices.
He also demanded justice over the killing of Osman Hadi and accountability for violence linked to the July movement, insisting that the “July Charter” must be implemented without alteration.
Shafiqul Islam Masud, Secretary General of Jamaat’s Dhaka South unit, claimed that the 12 February polls amounted not only to a parliamentary election but also to a referendum.
“There can be no delay in implementing the July Charter.
The future of Bangladesh must be guided by it,” he said, alleging that repression began the day after polling.
Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, condemned reported attacks, particularly against women, describing them as grave crimes.
He said the 11-party alliance would continue its movement both inside and outside parliament.
Nasiruddin Patwari, chief organiser of the Bangladesh Nagorik Party, alleged large-scale vote manipulation and demanded swift justice over Osman Hadi’s death.
He said his party stood for democratic reform and an end to corruption and extortion.
Maulana Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, described the election as controversial and accused unnamed actors of “engineering” the process to block certain candidates from entering parliament.
Other speakers included AB Party chairman Mujibur Rahman Monju, Labour Party president Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Jagpa vice-president and spokesperson Rashed Prodhan, Omar Faruq, son of Colonel Oli Ahmed, and Saiful Alam Khan Milon, a Jamaat executive council member elected from Dhaka-12.
Speakers reiterated allegations of post-election attacks on opposition supporters and warned that protests would continue if their demands were not addressed.
The rally concluded with an announcement that a procession would march towards Shahbagh via the National Press Club and Matsya Bhaban areas.