Tuesday, 16 September, 2025
A coalition of Islamist and like-minded parties has announced a united campaign to press for five key demands ahead of the next national election.
The demands include full implementation of the July Charter, proportional representation (PR) voting, a ban on the politics of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, ensuring a level playing field for elections, and justice for the July killings.
The announcement was made by Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir, Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, at a press conference on Monday (September 15).
According to Charmonai Pir, the July uprising aimed to secure fundamental reforms in the country, but the focus has shifted solely to elections, which he warned could return the nation to the grip of the old political order. He emphasised that the movement was not merely about a change of power but intended to cleanse political culture, restore institutional balance, and ensure the independence of constitutional bodies.
Expressing frustration at the failure to finalise the July Charter or enact key legal reforms over the past 14 months, he warned that post-election promises of reform were unlikely to be honoured. “That is why it is crucial to secure the legal foundation of reforms before the polls,” he said.
Charmonai Pir vowed to continue the movement until the demands are met and hinted that future programmes would become more intense if necessary. The announced programmes include a rally and protest march in Dhaka on September 18, protests in divisional cities on September 19, and demonstrations across districts and upazilas on September 26. He added that the movement was not directed against any single political party but was a moral obligation to honour those who sacrificed their lives during the July uprising.
BNP Reacts
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) welcomed the announcement, describing it as “a timely initiative that echoes the aspirations of citizens seeking fair and transparent elections.” A senior BNP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party supported proportional representation and a level playing field but cautioned against actions that could escalate political tensions. “We share the goal of reforming the political process, but we urge all parties to ensure that protests remain peaceful and constructive,” the leader added.
BNP sources also indicated that the party was in talks with like-minded groups to coordinate efforts to pressure the government on electoral reforms, while avoiding direct confrontations that could destabilise the country ahead of the polls.
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A coalition of Islamist and like-minded parties has announced a united campaign to press for five key demands ahead of the next national election.
The demands include full implementation of the July Charter, proportional representation (PR) voting, a ban on the politics of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, ensuring a level playing field for elections, and justice for the July killings.
The announcement was made by Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir, Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, at a press conference on Monday (September 15).
According to Charmonai Pir, the July uprising aimed to secure fundamental reforms in the country, but the focus has shifted solely to elections, which he warned could return the nation to the grip of the old political order. He emphasised that the movement was not merely about a change of power but intended to cleanse political culture, restore institutional balance, and ensure the independence of constitutional bodies.
Expressing frustration at the failure to finalise the July Charter or enact key legal reforms over the past 14 months, he warned that post-election promises of reform were unlikely to be honoured. “That is why it is crucial to secure the legal foundation of reforms before the polls,” he said.
Charmonai Pir vowed to continue the movement until the demands are met and hinted that future programmes would become more intense if necessary. The announced programmes include a rally and protest march in Dhaka on September 18, protests in divisional cities on September 19, and demonstrations across districts and upazilas on September 26. He added that the movement was not directed against any single political party but was a moral obligation to honour those who sacrificed their lives during the July uprising.
BNP Reacts
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) welcomed the announcement, describing it as “a timely initiative that echoes the aspirations of citizens seeking fair and transparent elections.” A senior BNP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party supported proportional representation and a level playing field but cautioned against actions that could escalate political tensions. “We share the goal of reforming the political process, but we urge all parties to ensure that protests remain peaceful and constructive,” the leader added.
BNP sources also indicated that the party was in talks with like-minded groups to coordinate efforts to pressure the government on electoral reforms, while avoiding direct confrontations that could destabilise the country ahead of the polls.
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