Government betraying the People from the beginning: Dr Shafiqur Rahman

This government has been betraying the people since the very beginning of its tenure. If it fails to learn from the past, it too will have to flee, warned Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman.

He made the remarks at a roadside rally of the 11-party alliance at Mahipal on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Feni at 4:00 PM on Saturday (September 5).

The Jamaat Ameer said the government has repeatedly ignored public demands and deceived the people. He alleged that during any crisis in the country, other political parties flee abroad, while Jamaat has never left the country.

“We are hearing the footsteps of fascism once again. We are being threatened now, but we are not afraid of such intimidation. Stay prepared; when the final call comes, we will have to take to the streets again,” he said.

Speaking at the rally, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the people of the country are not doing well, with shortages of gas and electricity. He also alleged that six months have passed without any progress in bringing those responsible for the massacre to justice.

“This government has betrayed the people from day one. Bangladesh is our only home; we have nowhere else to go. A steamroller of oppression has been driven over us. We have never fled to anyone’s house abroad,” he said.

He warned that the opposition would not tolerate any arbitrary actions concerning people’s rights. He also called on everyone to remain prepared to take to the streets again, even at the risk of their lives.

Meanwhile, opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam instructed supporters to remain prepared to respond if they came under attack. He said a final political declaration would be made at a grand rally in Dhaka.

He added that if the government accepts the opposition’s six-point demands before the final declaration, the opposition would withdraw from its planned hardline programmes.

The 11-party alliance’s announced Long March programme began from Dhaka on Saturday morning, heading toward Chattogram.

The roadside rally was chaired by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Feni District Ameer Maulana Mufti Abdul Hannan. Special guests included Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam, MP; LDP Chairman and former minister Colonel (Retd.) Dr Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Allama Mamunul Haque; Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar; and NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari.