On September 15 (Monday) at 12:30 p.m., Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a press conference at Moghbazar Al-Falah Auditorium to announce a program of movement to press home its 5-point demands, including elections in February based on the July National Charter.

The conference was hosted by Assistant Secretary General and Head of party's Central Publicity and Media Department, Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair. Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher presented the written statement and answered various questions from journalists.

Among others, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar; Assistant Secretary General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad (former MP); Maulana Abdul Halim; Advocate Moazzem Hossain Helal; Central Executive Council member Saiful Alam Khan Milon; Central Executive Council member and Secretary of Central Publicity and Media Department Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda; Central Executive Council members Mr. Abdur Rob and Mr. Mobarak Hossain; Dhaka City North Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa; Dhaka City South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud; Dhaka City North Assistant Secretary Yasin Arafat; and Publicity and Media Department Secretary Ataur Rahman Sarkar were present on the occasion.

The statement presented at the press conference to the nation is as follows:

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Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Dear journalist friends,
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.

At a crucial time in the nation’s history, we have appeared before you today. Bangladesh is currently moving forward through a political crisis. After the successful mass uprising of July–August 2024, the dictator Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled abroad. The administrative structure of the country collapsed. In the absence of a government, a constitutional vacuum was created. Many provisions of the constitution became ineffective. In such a situation, an interim government was formed as the ultimate expression of the people’s will and on the basis of national consensus. The source and basis of legitimacy of this government lies in the will of the people, as stated in Article 7 of the Constitution.

Dear journalist friends,

Due to flaws in the constitution and the structural disorder of the state, authoritarian rule, suppression of dissent, corruption, and politicization rendered the entire country dysfunctional. Constitutional institutions were destroyed. As a result, reforms in all sectors of the state became indispensable. After assuming responsibility, the interim government began working with the pledge to meet public expectations, ensure justice for the mass killings, state reforms, and block all paths for the return of dictatorship. Various reform commissions were formed accordingly. Based on the recommendations of those commissions, the National Consensus Commission held discussions with political parties on 166 proposals. After long discussions, 84 proposals were adopted as decisions. However, due to disagreements by one or two political parties on several proposals, many important decisions could not be made.

Dear journalist friends,

The government has already prepared the July National Declaration and the July National Charter. As a major political party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami presented its suggestions, including necessary amendments, to the government regarding the July National Declaration and the July National Charter. Jamaat-e-Islami has always played a strong role in giving the July National Charter a legal basis. At this critical juncture of the nation, Jamaat-e-Islami has repeatedly highlighted past precedents and examples under the “doctrine of necessity” to assert the legal basis of the July National Charter. We believe that without granting legal status to the July National Charter, the uprising achieved through the blood of students and the people, along with its accomplishments, may end in failure.

Dear journalist friends,

The roadmap for the national election has already been announced. We have been calling for necessary steps to be taken to ensure a free, fair, neutral, and acceptable election without fear or intimidation in accordance with the announced roadmap. Based on our past experiences, we have been strongly demanding the introduction of the PR (Proportional Representation) system in the elections, to prevent the use of black money, the capture of polling centers, muscle power, various irregularities and misdeeds in the voting process, and also to ensure a quality parliament and competent lawmakers where every vote counts. The majority of Bangladesh’s political parties, intellectuals, journalists, columnists, writers, researchers, academics, and people of different professions have expressed their support for the demand for elections under the PR system.

Dear journalist friends,

We observe that no steps are being taken to implement the people’s demands. In such a situation, there is no alternative to initiate a mass movement to realize the people’s demands. Therefore, on behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, today, September 15, we are placing before the nation a 5-point people’s demand to build Bangladesh into a just and accountable democratic state by holding a free, fair, and acceptable election in February based on the July National Charter and by ensuring the people’s right to vote.

The demands are as follows:

1. To hold elections in February based on the July National Charter.

2. Introduce the PR system in both houses in the upcoming national election.

3. Ensure a level playing field for all for free, fair, and acceptable elections.

4. Ensure visible justice for all repression, mass killings, and corruption of the fascist government.

5. Ban the activities of the autocrat’s allies—the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.

To implement these demands, the following programs will be observed, InshaAllah:

September 18: Rally and protest procession in the capital Dhaka.

September 19: Protest processions in all divisional cities across the country.

September 26: Protest processions in all districts and upazilas across the country.

Through the implementation of these programs, we call upon the nation to form unity in realizing the people’s demands.