Holding its first rally in the capital after a decade, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday (June 10, 2023) 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. Also read: Jamaat gets permission to hold rally at Engineers Institute 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.” Also read: Jamaat’s protest rally: DMP Commissioner will decide on permission, says Home Minister 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.” Also read: 10 Jamaat-Shibir men detained from Banani: Police

A clash broke out between the law enforcers and activists and leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir in the capital's Malibagh as they tried to bring out a procession after Juma prayers, police said. Several people, including 10 cops and Jamaat- Shibir men sustained injuries during the clash. The law enforcers detained several Jamaat-Shibir men over the incident. The injured cops were New Market and Ramna zones’ Assistant Commissioners Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman and Md Bayezidur Rahman, sub inspectors—Shahidul Osman Masum, Subir Kumar Karmakar, Habibur Rahman, Mohaiminul Hasan, Kabir Hossain, Md Firoz Miah, constables Sourav Nath and Sadi Mohammad.   A police officer said the Jamaat-e-Islami sought permission from the police to bring out a mass procession from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque as part of the simultaneous movement of the opposition parties and alliances to unseat the current government. "But the party was denied permission." Read more: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka "The Jamaat men tried to hold a mass procession without police permission in Malibagh. A clash ensued as police had asked the Jamaat men not to go through with the procession, but they had paid no heed to the law enforcers," Shahen Shah Mahmud, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division), said. "The Jamaat-Shibir men hurled bricks at police. The law enforcers then fired tear gas to disperse them and bring the situation under control," he added. "Later, some people were detained from the spot and brought to the concerned police station." Read more: Simultaneous Movement: 33 opposition parties set to take out mass processions in city

A Dhaka University (DU) student, allegedly beaten up by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists on suspicion of being a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir, started a hunger strike Wednesday protesting against the assault.