Fear of violence as Jamaat plans showdown in Dhaka amid permission denial 

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has planned to hold a procession in Dhaka today despite authorities declining the party's request seeking permission to hold the rally. 

"The decision was taken to avoid any kind of public suffering due to political movement and procession on a working day," Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Additional Commissioner and Detective Branch Chief Haroon Or Rashid made the disclosure while talking to journalists at his office on Sunday (4 June). 

Haroon Or Rashid also said the police would investigate why Jamaat was back in the scene just before the national elections. 

However, the party has decided to go ahead with the protest rally at any cost, even without police permission.

Highlights:

• There is a plan to hold protest marches at the district level as well
• Jamaat organised a meeting in the capital on Saturday to discuss today's march
• The party is entering the political field to show its strength 
• Chhatra Shibir remains on high alert
• The party has been reeling since the announcement of the US visa policy 
• They are preparing to handle any attacks or conflicts during the assembly

Several meetings were held in the capital consisting of the party's senior and mid-level leaders to make the rally successful.

Ashraful Alam Imon, director of Jamaat's Dhaka city south publicity and media wing, told The Business Standard (TBS), "We hope that we will be able to gather a huge crowd for this procession. The procession will be brought out from Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Every Thana unit of Jamaat under Dhaka metropolitan area will join this rally."

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan South organised a meeting in the capital on Saturday to discuss today's protest march. The party's Naib Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher was present at the event as the chief guest.

Jamaat-e-Islami is entering the political field to show its strength. The party has been reeling since the announcement of the US visa policy. 

The programme will be held in demand of "stopping the rise in commodity prices; releasing the arrested national leaders, including party leader Ameer Safiqur Rahman and ulama; and establishing fair rights for people, including a non-partisan caretaker government system." There is a plan to hold protest marches at the district level as well.

The party has sought the cooperation of the police administration to arrange these programmes in an orderly and peaceful manner. Alongside this, they have demanded that the offices of various districts, including the centre, be opened.

Jamaat-e-Islami's Publicity Secretary Matiur Rahman Akand mentioned their leaders are busy with this programme and new ones will be decided later.

The party is also preparing to handle any attacks or conflicts during the assembly. Additionally, its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, remains on high alert and ready to engage if unexpected circumstances arise, according to the insiders.

Regardless of government permission, Jamaat has decided to proceed with the event on 5 June, said Yasin Arafat, a member of Jamaat-e-Islami's Majlis-e-Shura, insisting that it will be completely peaceful.