“The rise of Awami fascism began on October 28, 2006”

He made the remark while addressing a protest rally organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan South on Tuesday (October 28), demanding justice for those killed during what the party termed the “Awami League’s sit-in violence” on that day in 2006.

During his speech, Golam Parwar questioned, “If false cases can be fabricated and tried for incidents that took place three or four decades ago, why can’t the real accused be tried for the October 28 incident?”

He alleged that those who seek a referendum on the day of the national election are attempting to “invalidate the July Charter.” He said, “Initially, they refused to give the Charter a legal basis. Later, seeing the consensus among all political parties, they accepted it for strategic reasons but remain in a dilemma. Although they now support the referendum, they are spreading false arguments against holding it.”

Calling for clarity, Parwar asked, “If a referendum can be held on election day, why is it objectionable to hold it in November? The people of this country are not foolish—they cannot be deceived.”

He demanded that the July Charter be issued through a presidential ordinance and that a referendum be held by November.

Referring to the events of 2006, he said, “The rise of Awami fascism began on October 28, 2006. If Jamaat-e-Islami gets the opportunity to run the state, we will ensure justice for every killing and build a Bangladesh of justice and fairness.”

Golam Parwar also alleged that Sheikh Hasina is “planning to create anarchy in Bangladesh in November while staying in Delhi,” and called for a ban on the 14-party alliance led by her. He said free and fair elections would not be possible without banning the alliance, which he accused of plotting to “disrupt the polls through terrorism and unrest.”

He urged the interim government to strengthen the intelligence agencies to identify “fascist elements” within and outside the government and bring them under the law.

Speaking as a special guest, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan described October 28, 2006, as a “shameful day” in Bangladesh’s history, alleging that Awami League activists carried out violent attacks that left 14 Jamaat-Shibir members dead. He demanded the revival of the case filed over the incident and called for the punishment of the real perpetrators.

Another Assistant Secretary General, Maulana Abdul Halim, claimed that Sheikh Hasina had “led fascism for 18 years” from 2006 to 2024, and demanded that the leaders of the 14-party alliance be brought to justice and banned from politics.

The rally, held at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, was presided over by Dhaka Metropolitan South Amir Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul and conducted by Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, the city’s south unit secretary. Several central and metropolitan Jamaat leaders, including Dr. Helal Uddin, Muhammad Delwar Hossain, Mohammad Kamal Hossain, Md. Shamsur Rahman, and Kabir Ahmed, were also present.

In his closing speech, Nurul Islam Bulbul said Jamaat-Shibir activists “fought throughout October 28, 2006, to defend the nation from Awami League’s attacks” and pledged to continue working to “establish people’s rights and protect independence and sovereignty.”

He also called for the revival of cases related to political killings and state recognition for the families of those who died on October 28.

Following the rally, a massive protest march started from Baitul Mukarram’s North Gate and moved through Bijoynagar, Kakrail, and Shantinagar, with thousands of activists chanting slogans demanding justice for the killings of October 28, 2006.