Our long march is for a corruption-free Bangladesh: Jamaat Ameer

He was speaking as the chief guest at a roadside rally of the 11-party alliance’s Dhaka-Rangpur long march at Bhogra Bypass Road in Gazipur around 9:45am on Saturday. The rally was presided over by Gazipur Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Professor Jamal Uddin.

The rally was organised to press for the implementation of the referendum mandate; trial of the July killings; an end to shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser; curbing the rising prices of essential commodities; stopping corruption, extortion and land grabbing; improving law and order; ending narrow partisanisation; and implementing the Teesta Master Plan.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman called upon the people to join the movement and said, “The BNP will drink water, but it will make the water muddy,” apparently referring to the party’s approach to political issues.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman and former minister Col (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram said, “We are not against the government, nor are we against the country. We want to build a country free from terrorism, extortion and corruption. But the current government is unable to do so under any circumstances. We want reforms, and those reforms must be carried out.”

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Allama Mamunul Haque said they were heading towards the northern region through the long march to press for people’s rights.

“The 11 parties have taken to the streets with the people’s demands. We will return home after making the movement successful. There is no alternative to implementing the people’s mandate in the referendum. The government must step down after implementing the referendum verdict,” he said.

He also warned that the government’s delay over implementation of the Teesta Master Plan would not be tolerated.

Jamaat Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar said the government had “deceived and betrayed” the people by refusing to implement the referendum mandate.

“We are informing millions of people about the government’s failures. The government will be compelled to implement the Teesta Master Plan immediately,” he said.

Khelafat Andolan Naib-e-Ameer Maulana Abul Kashem said, “We have taken to the streets with the demands of 180 million people. The government must implement the people’s mandate in the referendum.”

AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju said the BNP had now turned into a “give us more” party.
“Our struggle is continuing to free the country from fascism and stop looting,” he said.

The roadside rally, which began at around 8am, was addressed by Jamaat Naib-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman MP and other local and national leaders.

Among those present were Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and former MP Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, who is also the coordinator of the 11-party alliance; Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair; and Nurul Islam Bulbul MP.

Gazipur City Corporation mayoral candidate Dr Hafizur Rahman moderated the rally.

Earlier, the long march was inaugurated with a large public rally at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital, where top leaders of the 11-party alliance addressed the gathering.

Following the rally, the procession set out for Rangpur at around 8am. Thousands of men and women welcomed the convoy with flowers and slogans at Tejgaon, Mohakhali, Banani, Khilkhet, Uttara and Tongi before it reached the roadside rally at Bhogra Bypass Road in Gazipur.

After the Gazipur rally, the long-march convoy resumed its journey towards Rangpur. Along the route, it is scheduled to hold roadside rallies at Nagar Jalfai Bypass Road in Tangail, Hatikumrul intersection in Sirajganj, Matidali Airport intersection in Bogura and Palashbari in Gaibandha.