Six parties back govt’s reform-first polls plan

Six political parties, including National Citizen Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Jamaat-e-Islami, will support the interim government hold a national election after making the necessary reforms.

The five "anti-fascist" political parties held an emergency meeting on Thursday night at the office of Islami Andolan in the capital's Purana Paltan and reached a consensus on the matter, according to a press release.

The meeting was convened at the call of Islami Andolan leader Mufti Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim, widely known as Charmonai Pir.

The three other parties are Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and AB Party.

Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman attended the meeting over the phone while top leaders of the other parties were present in person.

During the discussions, the leaders unanimously agreed to fully support the interim government led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. They emphasised the need for urgent reforms that would pave the way for a free and fair national election under his leadership.

The party leaders also called for unity among all anti-fascist forces and said there were conspiracies against the country's sovereignty, independence, and stability, added the release.

They stressed the importance of collective and strategic efforts to restore peace and stability and to contribute to nation-building in the days ahead.

Those who attended the meeting include: Nurul Haque Nur of the Gono Odhikar Parishad; Yunus Ahmed, Prof Ashraf Ali Akon and Gazi Ataur Rahman of Islami Andolan; Asaduzzaman Fuad of AB Party; Maulana Jalal Uddin Ahmad of Khelafat Majlis; and Ariful Islam Adeeb and Sarwar Tushar of NCP.