Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, gathered in the capital city of Dhaka, demanding an overhaul of the electoral system. The party placed a seven-point demand on the country’s interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election, justice for all mass killings, essential reforms, and the proclamation and implementation of a charter involving last year’s mass uprising.
The party’s chief, Shafiqur Rahman, emphasized the need for a fight against corruption and extortion, stating, “How will the future Bangladesh look like? There will be another fight … We will do whatever is necessary and win that fight.” Jamaat-e-Islami also wants the introduction of a proportional representation system in the election, which would allow for more diverse representation in parliament.
Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami expressed their vision for a new Bangladesh, where Islam would be the guiding principle of governance, and good and honest people would rule the country without corruption. Iqbal Hossain, a 40-year-old supporter, said, “We are here for a new Bangladesh, where Islam would be the guiding principle of governance, where good and honest people will rule the country, and there will be no corruption. We will sacrifice our lives, if necessary, for this cause.”
Young supporters, including 20-year-old student Mohidul Morsalin Sayem, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Under Jamaat-e-Islami, this country will have no discrimination. All people will have their rights. Because we follow the path of the holy book – Quran. If all the Islamist parties join hands, soon, nobody will be able to take power from us.”
Jamaat-e-Islami’s past is marked by controversy, having sided with Pakistan during Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. The party was subsequently banned but re-emerged and registered its best electoral performance in 1991, securing 18 seats. The party also joined a coalition government in 2001 but failed to build lasting popular support.
The party’s registration was restored last month by the Supreme Court, paving the way for its participation in elections slated for next April. However, the Awami League party, led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reacted sharply to Yunus’s government allowing the rally, calling it a “stark betrayal with the national conscience”.
The South Asian nation is expected to head to the polls next year, with Jamaat-e-Islami planning to contest 300 parliamentary seats. The party is attempting to forge alliances with other Islamist groups and parties, potentially becoming a third force in the country behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Hasina’s former ruling Awami League party.