Jamaat's Long March from Dhaka to Ctg tomorrow

The 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has planned to stage a big showdown against BNP government on Saturday (tomorrow), organising its earlier declared Long March. The March will start from the Shapla Chattar in Motijheel at 7 am and proceed to Chattogram Laldighi Maidan.

Jamaat and its 11-party alliance declared the Long March to condemn and protest the failure of the BNP government to resolve power and gas crisis, growing cost of living and unemployment, improve law and order and betraying the July Referendum imposing one-party politicisation in state administration.

In preparation of the Saturday's Long March program Jamaat organised and mobilised its leaders, workers and activists.
Dhaka Metropolitan North Jamaat-e-Islami distributed leaflets in the capital on Thursday to mobilise public support for the 11-party alliance's Dhaka-Chattogram long march over its six-point demands.

NCP announces participation, demands implementation of July Referendum verdict and end to public sufferings 

The leaflet distribution programme was held in Karwan Bazar, Tejgaon Truck Stand and Satrasta areas from around 11:30am under the leadership of Dhaka Metropolitan North Jamaat Secretary Dr Muhammad Rezaul Karim.

Jamaat activists distributed leaflets among businessmen, workers, pedestrians and people from different walks of life, outlining the long march and its demands.

The six demands include implementation of the people's verdict in the referendum, trial of those responsible for the July mass killings, resolution of shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser, measures to control prices of essential commodities, improvement of law and order, and an end to narrow politicisation.

Speaking during the programme, Dr Rezaul Karim said the government had announced several priority programmes after assuming office, including ensuring affordable electricity and gas, controlling commodity prices and improving law and order.

"But the government has failed to achieve the desired success in these areas," he said.

He said the long march was not being organised on behalf of any particular political party but to press for implementation of what he described as the people's verdict.

Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) on Thursday announced that it would join the 11-party alliance's long march, demanding implementation of the July Referendum verdict and an end to public sufferings.

NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain made the announcement at a press conference following a coordination meeting at the party's temporary office in Bangla Motor.

Akhtar said the programme aimed to take people's grievances directly to the government and press for immediate measures to address the deteriorating law and order situation, shortages of electricity, oil, gas and fertiliser, and rising prices of essential commodities.

"In six months, the government has neither implemented the Referendum verdict, nor is the law and order situation good," he said.

He alleged that the government had failed in the energy sector and was trying to conceal its shortcomings. He also claimed that robberies, abductions and murders had made people increasingly insecure.

Akhtar further alleged that politicisation was taking place in every sector and said the government was becoming increasingly alienated from the people.

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said the alliance had initially planned to mobilise 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles for the march but reduced the number to around 1,000 amid the fuel crisis and rising prices.

He said the alliance had informed the Inspector General of Police about the programme and, following discussions with police, decided to conduct the march along one side of the road to minimise public inconvenience and ensure the uninterrupted movement of ambulances.

According to the schedule, the marchers will hold meetings at Shapla Chattar, Siddhirganj, Cumilla, Mahipal in Feni and Mirsarai before reaching Laldighi Maidan around 9pm.

NCP Northern Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam urged the government and administration to ensure security throughout the route and remain alert against any attempt to create an untoward situation.

The alliance also plans to organise similar long marches in Rangpur, Sylhet and Khulna, followed by a grand rally in Dhaka.