Honour July Referendum or face music, warns Dr Shafiq

Several cocktails were reportedly hurled at the 11-party long-march convoy on Saturday in the Fulbarigate area of Khulna while it was travelling from Shibbari towards Phultala.

No casualties or damage to vehicles were reported. The explosions triggered panic among people, including those who had gathered to welcome the procession. Earlier, a welcoming arch erected for the long march in the same area was set on fire, further escalating tensions.

The identities of those involved and the motive behind the incidents were not immediately known. An intelligence agency official confirmed the cocktail attack, while no comment was available from Khan Jahan Ali Police Station.

 Several cocktails hurled at 11-party long march 

Jamaat's leader Khan Jahan Ali thana assistant secretary Ismail Hossain Parvez alleged that two local Jubo Dal leaders from the Mirerdanga area led the attack. He said the officer-in-charge of the police station visited the spot shortly after the incident.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman warned the government of serious consequences if it ignored the people's verdict in the referendum, urging it to implement the results before the next session of parliament begins on November 9.

Addressing rallies during a long march organised by the 11-party alliance from Dhaka to Khulna and Kushtia, he said the government would earn public respect by honouring the referendum results, but would face humiliation and pay a heavy price if it failed to do so.

He also said the alliance would withdraw all its programmes if the BNP publicly pledged to implement the referendum verdict.

Addressing the opening rally, Shafiqur Rahman accused the government of backtracking on its pre-election commitment to implement the referendum decision if the 'Yes' vote won.

He claimed that around 70 per cent of voters had supported the referendum verdict and said it must be implemented. According to him, doing so would automatically fulfil the alliance's remaining six demands. "Those who deceive the people cannot escape the consequences," he said, urging people to remain prepared for another inevitable revolution.

He also raised questions about the proposed Matarbari deep-sea port, demanding disclosure of discussions held during the Prime Minister's recent foreign visit, particularly those concerning the port. Bangladesh, he said, must not be handed over to anyone in the name of connectivity.

During roadside rallies in Hasnabad of South Keraniganj, Munshiganj's Louhajang, Shariatpur's Jajira and Faridpur's Bhanga, the Jamaat chief repeatedly urged the government to respect the referendum results and refrain from imposing decisions on the people.

At the Jajira rally, he demanded justice for everyone killed during the July mass uprising, including Osman Hadi, and warned that any attempt to establish authoritarian rule would be resisted.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque warned that people would show the government a red card if it continued what he described as deception. He also threatened a one-point movement if the seven demands were not accepted.

At Bhanga, Shafiqur Rahman said the country's backbone was broken and called for comprehensive reforms. He demanded an end to corruption, extortion and misrule, lower prices of essential commodities, improved law and order, and solutions to shortages of electricity, gas and fertiliser.

Addressing a rally at Shibbari intersection in Khulna around 3:00pm, he criticised the government's handling of the energy situation, saying consumers were paying Tk 5,000 for gas and electricity despite receiving Tk 2,000 through cards. Farmers were also struggling to obtain fertiliser, while shortages of electricity and gas were affecting people across the country, he added.

Seven-point demands: The alliance's seven demands include implementation of the referendum verdict and constitutional reforms in line with the July National Charter; justice for the July uprising killings; an end to shortages of electricity, energy, gas and fertiliser; control of essential commodity prices; improved law and order; an end to corruption, extortion and land grabbing; and an end to political bias in public administration.

The approximately 425-kilometre-long march was planned to pass through 19 districts. The alliance had earlier staged similar long marches towards Chattogram on September 5 and Rangpur on September 19. It has announced another long march towards Sylhet on November 21.