Dhaka, Nov. 11 -- Eight Islamist political parties have gathered at Dhaka's Paltan intersection to press home a five-point list of demands, including issuing an order to implement the July Charter and holding a referendum on it by the end of November.

The rally began around 2pm on Tuesday with a recitation from the Quran.

The parties - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Bangladesh Nezam-E-Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), and Bangladesh Development Party - have been waging a joint movement for the past four months, demanding electoral reforms such as the introduction of a proportional representation (PR) system.

Leaders and suppor...