Staff Correspondent

Holding its first rally in the capital after a decade, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday demanded holding the next national election under a non-party caretaker government.

The Jamaat leaders also urged the party followers to get ready for taking to the streets to force the government to accept the demand.

The party’s Dhaka South city unit arranged the rally at the Institution of the Engineers, Bangladesh protesting the price hikes in daily essentials and demanding the restoration of the caretaker government and the release of the party’s arrested leaders and activists.

This is the first time since 2013 that Jamaat was able to hold a political programme in the capital as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave the party permission for the programme on some conditions.

Huge number of leaders of activists of Jamaat and Chhatra Shibir joined the rally held with the party’s Dhaka south unit president Nurul Islam Bulbul presiding.

A written statement was read out on behalf of Acting Jamaat Ameer Mujibur Rahman.

In the statement, Mujibur Rahman said the country’s people will not accept the next election under the partisan government. “So take steps for holding the election under a caretaker government demonstrating your good sense. There is no alternative to it.”

He also placed a 10-point demand, including holding the election under the caretaker government, the release of party leaders and workers and reopening all party offices.

Speaking at the programme as the chief guest, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said the government is talking about a fair and neutral election. “We also want a fair and impartial election. Democracy means fair elections…but the election can’t be allowed to hold this time like 2014 and 2-018 ones.”

The Jamaat leader said the election must be held under the caretaker government this time. “So, come to the discussions to get a solution.”

He also said their party will take to the streets for establishing the caretaker government. “We’ll do whatever needs to be done for realising the demand for the caretaker government.”