Jamaat-e-Islami and three other Islamic parties have announced protest programmes to voice their five-point demand.
Jamaat-e-Islami announced their programme at a press conference to press for implementation of their demand. It will hold rallies on September 18, 19, and 26.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh led by Charmonai Pir announced that it would join the simultaneous movement pressing for implementation of the July Charter before the polls, proportional representation (PR) of parties in both houses of parliament, a level-playing field in the electoral process, trial of genocide during the July revolution, and trial of the Jatiya Party and other 14-party allies.
On Monday, the party's Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim announced the programme at a press conference held at the party's central office at Purana Paltan area in the city.
As part of its five-point demand, Islami Andolan will hold protest rallies in Dhaka on September 18, in divisional cities on September 19, and in districts and upazilas on September 26.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, led by Mamunul Haque, declared the same schedule in a press conference on Sunday, calling for proportional representation in the upper house of parliament as part of its five-point demand.
Separately, Khelafat Majlis, under Abdul Basit Azad, also announced their six-point demand at a press conference on Monday, including proportional representation in the upper house. It set protest programmes for September 18 in Dhaka, September 19 in divisional cities, and September 26 in districts and upazilas.
Last Saturday, several other parties, including the NCP, AB Party, Gana Odhikar Parishad, and Nezame Islam Party, also held a meeting.
Of these, the NCP, Gana Odhikar Parishad, and AB Party sought proportional representation only in the upper house, not both. While these groups supported the July Charter and the demand to ban Awami League's allies, they decided not to join simultaneous movements with the religion-based parties.
The BNP has said that the reforms under the July Charter requiring constitutional amendments should be implemented within two years of the next parliament. But Jamaat, Islami Andolan, and both factions of Khelafat demand constitutional amendments before the election.
At the press conference, Charmonai Pir said Islamic parties inched closer to forming an alliance.
"There is an environment, by the mercy of Allah, to unite the votes of patriotic and humanity-loving people into one box in the next election," he said.
