DHAKA: Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh's main party rallied on Saturday, demanding an overhaul of the electoral system as the country gears up for polls next year. The Jamaat-e-Islami party has gained significant momentum since the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a popular uprising last year. During her tenure, Hasina took a hardline stance against Jamaat, even cancelling its registration as a political party. Last month, the Supreme Court restored the party's registration, paving the way for its participation in elections slated for next April.
Demonstrators braving the sweltering heat in the capital demanded changes to the distribution of seats, calling for proportional representation. Tens of thousands of demonstrators began swarming the Suhrawardy Udyan memorial in the capital Dhaka by midday, spilling out into the surrounding park. Some wore T-shirts bearing the party's logo, others sported headbands inscribed with its name, while many displayed metallic badges shaped like a scale - the party's electoral symbol. — AFP
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