Dhaka, Aug 22, 2025 — Islamic Chatra Andolan Bangladesh (ICAB) held a student rally in the capital’s Shahbagh area on Friday afternoon to mark its 34th founding anniversary. The event centered around calls for a fundamental restructuring of the state, the introduction of proportional representation (PR) in parliamentary elections, and the establishment of a justice-based welfare state.

Speaking as the chief guest, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, widely known as Pir Saheb of Charmonai and the Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, emphasized the urgency of electoral reform in Bangladesh. He criticized the current electoral system as being dominated by money, muscle power, and vote manipulation, which he argued enables corruption, extortion, and illicit capital flight.

He advocated for the adoption of the PR system, stating that it is practiced in 91 countries, none of which have abandoned it. He asserted that PR ensures balanced parliamentary representation and curtails authoritarianism. He cited a recent survey by civil society group Sujan (Citizens for Good Governance), which found that 71% of respondents favored switching to a PR-based electoral framework.

Pir Saheb also recalled the 2024 student protests, during which several students were reportedly killed, maimed, or lost their eyesight. He said their sacrifices must not go in vain and urged the interim government to make visible efforts toward punishing those responsible for past killings. He called for a transparent national election based on electoral justice.

Addressing the gathering, Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, Senior Naib-e-Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (popularly known as Shaykh-e-Charmonai), criticized both mainstream political factions for their contradictory stances on religious fundamentalism, accusing them of opportunism. He insisted that Islam remains a central and enduring part of Bangladesh’s national identity.

ICAB Secretary General Hafiz Mawlana Yunus Ahmad described the organization as a peaceful and morally grounded student body committed to building a welfare-oriented state free from corruption and injustice. He paid tribute to those injured or killed during the July 2024 uprising and called on members to remain steadfast in their ethical principles.

ICAB President Yusuf Ahmad Mansur said that post-2024 Bangladesh must not fall into the hands of autocrats, looters, or extremists. He demanded systemic reform of state institutions, particularly the education system, and emphasized that every vote cast by the younger generation must be counted and valued. He urged the authorities to implement PR-based elections to ensure inclusive representation.

The speakers collectively demanded the resumption of student union elections, including DUCSU, JUCSU, and RUCSU, to ensure the emergence of ethical and capable student leadership. They also called for an end to campus violence and political criminality, pressing for a more tolerant and constructive student political culture.

During the event, ICAB Central Vice President Muntasir Ahmad read out a proposed seven-point declaration outlining key demands:

  1. Fundamental state reform to prevent any future rise of autocracy or state capture by corrupt and violent actors. Priority must also be given to restructuring the national education system to meet public expectations.

  2. The next general election must be held using a proportional representation model in both houses of the proposed bicameral parliament to value every youth vote and prevent fascism from returning.

  3. A “July Charter” must be declared based on national consensus to address demands arising from the 2024 uprising, with full legal validation.

  4. A justice-based welfare state must be established to fulfill the aspirations of the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 uprising.

  5. Campus-based student union elections must be held nationwide to stop criminal student politics and foster honest, capable leadership.

  6. Justice must be ensured for all major incidents of political violence, including those at Pilkhana, Shapla Chattar, and in July 2024. Exiled perpetrators must be extradited and tried through diplomatic efforts.

  7. Law enforcement agencies must take active responsibility to curb extortion, terrorism, and political violence and ensure the safety of citizens.

Several senior leaders of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and its affiliated bodies attended the rally, including Presidium members Principal Syed Mosaddeq Billah Madani and Professor Ashraf Ali Akon, Assistant Secretary General Ahmad Abdul Qayyum, Joint Secretary General Gazi Ataur Rahman, and many others from Islamic Youth and Labor fronts.

ICAB’s top leadership, including Joint Secretary General Mishkatul Islam, Assistant Secretary Generals Imran Hossain Noor and Khairul Ahsan Marzan, and Organizational Secretary Sultan Mahmud, also took part in the event alongside other central and regional figures.

The rally concluded peacefully, with a call for broad-based national dialogue to establish electoral fairness and rebuild public trust in democratic institutions.

END/AHM/SMA/