The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven other Islamic parties on Thursday called on the interim government to announce the date of holding a referendum on the July Charter by November 10.
Jamaat nayeb-e-amir Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher made the demand at a rally at Purana Paltan crossing in the capital to press home their five demands.
The Jamaat leader said that they would hold a grand rally in Dhaka on November 11 if their demands were not met by the day.
Their five demands include a referendum on the July Charter before the national polls, implementation of the July Charter, holding the next general election in a proportional representation system, ensuring a level playing field for all political parties before the next national election and holding the election in a free, fair and credible manner.
Leaders and activists of the parties gathered at Purana Paltan crossing at about 11:00am to hold the rally.
Taher, referring to the question of expenditure for holding a referendum, said that the amount of money made through extortion in a day could meet the cost of holding a referendum every day.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh鈥檚 joint secretary general Gazi Ataur Rahman said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and some other political parties were creating obstacles in the way of implementing the July Charter.
Central leaders of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlish, Najame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party and Bangladesh Development Party also spoke at the rally.
The rally was followed by a march towards Jamuna and the police stopped the marchers near Matshya Bhaban, where they held a short rally.
A delegation led by Jamaat secretary general Mia Golam Parwar then went to Jamuna and handed over a memorandum to industries adviser Adilur Rahman Khan.
