Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mia Golam Porwar issued a statement today, 12 October, announcing the party’s third phase of programs based on its previously declared five-point demands.

The five-point demands are as follows:

1. To hold a referendum through an order implementing the July National Charter and to organize the national election in February next year;

2. To include the Proportional Representation (PR) system in both houses of parliament by incorporating it into the July National Charter and holding a referendum on it;

3. To ensure a level playing field for all parties in order to hold a free, fair, and credible election;

4. To make the trial and punishment of all acts of oppression, persecution, mass killings, and corruption committed by the fascist government visible; and

5. To ban the activities of the autocrat’s ally, the Jatiya Party, and the 14-Party alliance.

In the statement, Professor Mia Golam Porwar said, “In light of Jamaat-e-Islami’s five-point demands, the nationwide mass contact campaign held from 1 to 9 October, the mass processions in all divisional cities including Dhaka on 10 October, and the submission of memoranda to the Deputy Commissioners on 12 October have been successfully completed. I sincerely congratulate the people of the country for making these programs successful.

The massive public participation in these programs proves that the people fully support Jamaat’s demands. The government should respect the will of the people and immediately accept Jamaat’s five-point demands to pave the way for a free, fair, and impartial election. Otherwise, the people of the country will not leave the streets until these demands are met.”

He further said, “As the government has not yet accepted the aforementioned demands, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami hereby announces the following third phase of programs.”

Announced programs:

1. On 14 October, human chains will be held in Dhaka and all divisional cities across the country.

2. On 15 October, human chains will be held in all district towns of the country.

As part of the third phase of programs, Dhaka City North and South Jamaat will jointly organize a human chain on 14 October from Jatrabari intersection through Matsya Bhaban to Gabtoli bus terminal.

He further added that, “I call upon the residents of Dhaka, and the people across the country, and all activists of Jamaat to make the above-mentioned programs successful.”