Eight like-minded Islamist parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, organized a protest rally in Manikganj on Thursday morning. The demonstration began at the Manikganj bus stand area and marched through key points of the Dhaka-Aricha highway before turning into a rally in front of the Raj Hotel. District Jamaat leader Hafez Maulana Kamrul Islam and several other local leaders addressed the gathering, accusing the ruling Awami League of resorting to repression to maintain political control. They alleged that the government was conspiring to destabilize the country through unrest and urged citizens to remain vigilant for peace and security. Over a hundred activists from the eight allied parties participated in the event.