The Islami Andolan Bangladesh on Tuesday warned that no election could be held without implementing the promised reforms, visible trial of the July mass killings, legal recognition of the July Charter and the introduction of a proportional representation system in the general election.
The party issued the warning at a rally in front of the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital, demanding 鈥榣egal recognition of the July Charter, controlling the law and order situation, and PR system in national election鈥�.
IAB amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said, 鈥楾he students and common people sacrificed their lives during the mass uprising to free the nation from injustice. If any vested quarter pressures the chief adviser to hold elections before reforms, we will not leave the streets. We are making it clear.鈥�
Citing public opinion surveys, he said that most of the citizens want the PR system, which is widely practiced in many other countries, to curb black money, terrorism, and muscle power in elections.
IAB presidium member Mosaddeq Billah Al Madani echoed that the party would not join any election without reforms, trial of the July killings, and a PR system in the election.
Demanding the election free from muscle power, IAB secretary general Yunus Ahmad wanted to know whether there was any problem if the July Charter had a legal basis.
Another leader, Gazi Ataur Rahman, alleged that the chief adviser鈥檚 behavior was 鈥榤ysterious鈥�, saying, 鈥楬e himself admits that the country will return to its previous state if there are no reforms. However, he announced the election time without ensuring legal recognition of the July Charter.鈥�
Dhaka south city IAB president Imteyaz Alam said that the existing electoral process had failed to fulfill the nation鈥檚 expectations for more than five decades.
鈥楩or 54 years, neither the country nor the people have benefited. Anyone dreaming of continuing extortion and muscle politics under the old-style election is living in a fool鈥檚 paradise. The July uprising has shown people are still awake,鈥� he said.
Following the rally, IAB leaders and activists brought out a procession that paraded different roads in the Paltan area in the capital.
