Political platforms, led by former president AQM Badrudozza Chowdhury and senior lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain, have jointly announced five-point demand, which includes polls under a non-partisan and neutral government.
Led by Bikalpadhara Bangladesh chief Badrudozza, the Jukto Front coalition consists of ASM Abdur Rob's Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Mahmudur Rahman Manna's Nagorik Oikya. Gano Forum President Dr Kamal is leading the other platform — Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.
The demands were announced at a media call by Manna at the National Press Club on Saturday.
Earlier, the leaders took out a procession towards the Central Shaheed Minar, but were stopped by the police.
The five-point demands what the platforms say aim to forge a ‘national unity’ are
1. Dissolution of parliament before the announcement of the polls schedule for creating a level playing field and formation of a neutral polls-time administration upon talks with political parties; barring members of the interim govt from contesting the polls.
2. Ensuring freedom of expression and reconstitution of the Election Commission with acceptable persons through talks to hold a free, fair and credible parliamentary election.
3. Withdrawal of false cases against the leaders and activists of quota reform and road safety movements and release of all the detained political leaders.
4. Deployment of army with magistracy power one month ahead and ten days after the national polls.
5. Scrapping plans to use electronic voting machines in the upcoming general election.