Leaders warn of one-point movement if people’s rights not secured

The 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, warns of launching one-point movement if the rights of the country’s people are not established, as its Long March, started from Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka, ended in Chattogram on Saturday with a rally at the historic Laldighi Maidan. 

The motorcade, carrying leaders and activists, as part of the Long march began in the capital Dhaka and reached Chattogram in the evening. The car rally touched different important crossings on the highway where allines leaders addressed road side rallies before reaching Chattogram.

“Our movement will continue until the rights of the 180 million people of this country are established,” said alliance chief, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman while addressing a rally in Cumilla.

He said the long march was aimed at establishing people’s rights and resolving their problems, describing it as the beginning rather than the end of the movement.

The alliance organised the Long March with demands for implementation of the July Referendum verdict and the July Charter, trials of those responsible for the July mass killings, an end to public sufferings, and reforms to state institutions.

It also demanded an end to crisis of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser, control of rising prices of essential commodities, and action against extortion and corruption. Improvement of law and order and an end to the politicisation of state institutions were among its other demands.

A large number of people attended the concluding rally at Laldighi Maidan. Organisers claimed that millions gathered at the venue and adjoining areas, while thousands welcomed the march leaders at different points along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

The long march began at 7:00am from Shapla Chattar in the capital following a rally. After a recitation from the Holy Quran, the inaugural speech was delivered by Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the 11-party alliance. The procession in a motorcade left for Chattogram at around 8:30am.

Addressing the inaugural rally, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said people were suffering from crisis of gas, electricity and water despite having to pay their bills regularly. He said the leaders would continue their movement until people's rights were secured.

At a roadside rally in Kanchpur, he said the alliance had taken to the streets to demand implementation of the July Referendum verdict and July Charter and ensure gas for people's kitchens and electricity in their homes.

At another rally in Cumilla's Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad, Shafiqur demanded the establishment of Cumilla division, saying the demand had been raised since 1994 but remained unfulfilled. He also alleged that extortion, terrorism, corruption and drug abuse had increased in the district.

Opposition Chief Whip on the parliament and NCP Convener Nahid Islam said the long march would reach Chattogram despite attempts to obstruct it. He said the alliance's six-point demands would eventually turn into a single-point demand.

Nahid later claimed that the Long March had received a strong response from the people. Criticising the government's performance during its first 180 days, he alleged that the children of some ministers were involved in extortion and corruption.

Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque alleged that the government had betrayed the nation and warned that attempts to mislead people while remaining in power would be met with a mass movement.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar alleged that the BNP government had failed to ease people's sufferings. He accused it of failing to implement the July Referendum verdict and called on the government to acknowledge its mistakes in parliament and initiate constitutional reforms.

Speaking at a rally at Feni's Mohipal, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur demanded trials of those responsible for killings during what he described as the 15-and-a-half-year fascist rule as well as the July mass killings. He alleged that the BNP government had failed to implement the July Referendum verdict despite more than six months in office.

Nahid alleged that the BNP was failing to keep its promises and that people were being deprived of their rights, while Mamunul Haque called for justice for the July mass killings and implementation of the July Charter and constitutional reforms.

Liberal Democratic Party Chairman and Freedom Fighter Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikram, who contested the recent Presidential election as Jamaat candidate, alleged that the country was overwhelmed by extortion, killings and lawlessness by BNP leaders and activists and he called for an end to such practices.