Hefazat-e-Islam has announced a nationwide protest on May 23, demanding the cancellation of the Women`s Reform Commission and addressing three other key issues. The announcement was made during a grand rally held at Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday morning.

The rally began at 9 am and saw participation from leaders and activists not only from Dhaka and Chattogram but also from various districts and sub-districts across the country.

The primary focus of the gathering was the demand for the withdrawal of cases filed against Hefazat members and justice for what the group claims was a massacre at Shapla Chattar.

Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Joint Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam, expressed concern that if the cases are not dropped before the national elections, the next government could use them as political leverage.

"We decided to hold this rally because the government has already signalled that elections are on the way. Once the election season begins, the chances of having our cases withdrawn will diminish. We’ll be caught in political maneuvering," he said. "The government is accommodating many other demands—why not ours?"

The four demands of Hefazat-e-Islam are:

Cancel the Women`s Reform Commission and reject its report.
Restore the constitutional phrase "absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah" in place of pluralism.
Withdraw all legal cases against Hefazat leaders and activists, and investigate all alleged mass killings, including the one at Shapla Chattar.
Take an active role in stopping the persecution and killings of Muslims in Palestine and India.