Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed solidarity and joined the rally organized by Gana Adhikar Parishad—one of the key organizations of the anti-fascist movement—demanding justice for the attack on Gana Adhikar Parishad’s President and former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur, resolving the complications surrounding the legal basis and implementation of the July Declaration, and trial of the accomplices of fascism.

Led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Central Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Jamaat leaders joined the program of Gana Adhikar Parishad at Shahbagh on Friday (September 5) afternoon, after marching in a large procession from in front of the National Press Club.

Prior to joining the procession, a street rally was held in front of the National Press Club where speeches were delivered by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Central Working Committee Member and Nayeb-e-Ameer of Dhaka South City, and Jamaat’s nominated parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-8 Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin; Central Working Committee Member and Secretary of Dhaka South City Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud; Assistant Secretary of Dhaka South City Md. Shamsur Rahman; President of Bangladesh Sramik Kollan Federation Dhaka South City Abdus Salam; Assistant Publicity Secretary of Dhaka South City Abdus Sattar Suman; and Ameer of Wari East Thana Mohtasim Billah.

Speakers demanded urgent measures through a referendum, instead of creating complications over the PR system in the upcoming national election and the legal basis and implementation process of the July Declaration. They said, “It is shameful that in order to implement the spirit of the July Declaration, people have to take to the streets and place demands before a revolutionary government.”

Calling upon the post-July revolution government to adopt an uncompromising stance in implementing the spirit of the revolution, they said, “It is the moral duty of the interim government to focus on fulfilling the aspirations of the people, rather than showing loyalty to any particular party.” The speakers urged that if the government was pressured by any political party regarding the PR system of election and the legal basis of the July Declaration, the matter must be disclosed to the people. They further stated that if consensus cannot be reached politically regarding the PR system and the legal and implementation process of the July Declaration, then the final decision must be taken through a referendum.

Warning the authorities, the speakers said that without a national election under the PR system and without granting legal status and implementation of the July Declaration, the people of the country will not accept any election. Jamaat-e-Islami will not participate in any unacceptable election, they asserted.

Condemning the attack on Nurul Haque Nur, the speakers said, “Even after one week of the attack on the Mr. Nur, the government has not arrested a single person involved in the incident—nor has it been able to. Under the current law and order situation, there is no environment for elections. If the July Declaration is not given legal status, every student and citizen who participated in the July Revolution could be put in the dock. If the Awami League-led 14-party alliance is not banned, revolutionary leaders may have to suffer the same fate as Nur.” Therefore, they demanded that legal status be immediately granted to the July Declaration, trial of genocide be ensured, and the 14-party alliance be banned, followed by holding the national elections under the PR system.

At that time, Jamaat-e-Islami's Central Majlis-e-Shura Member and Assistant Secretary of Dhaka South City, and Jamaat’s nominated parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-6 Dr. Mohammad Abdul Mannan; Working Committee Member of Dhaka City, and Jamaat’s nominated parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-4 Syed Zaynul Abedin; and other responsible leaders of different levels of the city were present.