Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman today said those "who went crazy over holding the national elections" are now speaking in a different tune.

"This is not a good sign. They must have understood that the people are preparing to show a red card to them, considering their activities," he said while speaking as the chief guest of the joint rally of eight Islamist and like-minded parties at Alia Madrasa field in Chowhatta area in Sylhet city this afternoon.

Shafiqur said, "People shed blood hoping that politicians might learn a lesson for their misdeeds and start afresh. However, a certain group is still following the old ways."

"They are not willing to accept reforms… Were not interested in fulfilling the July Sanad referendum… But later, forced the government to hold the referendum on the same day as elections," he said.

The Jamaat ameer said, "Some face backlash for extortion, while others enforce it with more power."

"The trend of oppressing political leaders of opposing beliefs, torturing, jailing, and hanging Islamist leaders is yet to stop," he added.

Islami Shashantantra Andolon (ISA) Ameer Charmonai Pir Syed Fazlul Karim said, "A party's stance against reforms is visible. They went crazy for elections… Now they are trying to delay the elections."

Mamunul Haque, ameer of Khelafat Majlis, said, "The Islamist leaders of the country shed blood, were executed, but did not bow to misdeeds. A group of Bangladeshis, backed by Western powers, is trying to impose new fascism on us after we overthrew a fascist party. We will not accept any neo-fascists in the country."

At the rally, Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, Bangladesh Nizam-e-Islam's Ameer Sarwar Kamal Azizi, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan Ameer Habibullah Miaji, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa) Vice-President Al Rashed Pradhan, and Bangladesh Development Party President Anwarul Islam Chan spoke at the rally.