Dhaka: Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, held a citizens’ rally here on Saturday giving the government a deadline to meet its three-point demand, including steps for the formation of an-election time neutral government through discussions with political parties, by September 30.

Their two other demands are taking effective steps for reconstituting the Election Commission and dissolving parliament before the announcement of the election schedule.

Oikya Prokriya also announced to hold rallies across the country with the presence of national leaders from October 1 to involve people in their unity process.

Engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah, the convener of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, read out an announcement of the citizens’ rally.

Jatiya Oikya Prokriya arranged the rally at Mahanagar Natya Mancha in the city as part of its efforts to create a greater national unity to ensure a ‘functional democracy’ in the country through holding a credible national election.

Top leaders of BNP, its some alliance partners, Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh, Jataiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Ganosanghati Andolon and different other political parties and some civil society members joined the rally, and extended their support to the demands.

Oikya Prokriya also urged people to form committees of the Greater National Unity in all the districts upazilas, unions and words comprising all the political parties, individuals, the people of all walks of life and civil society members who believe in the spirit of the Liberation War to realise the demands of the mass people through united and peaceful programmes.