Special Correspondent: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Ameer and Bogura regional director ATM Azharul Islam MP has alleged that the government’s failure to implement what he described as the people’s verdict in a referendum has forced the opposition to take to the streets.

He said growing shortages of electricity and gas, along with deterioration in law and order, have created a crisis of confidence among ordinary people toward the government.

“The government must quickly implement the people’s verdict for change and reform. If it continues to delay implementation, the street movement will become stronger,” he said.

ATM Azharul Islam made the remarks on Saturday morning while presiding over a meeting of the implementation committee for the “Dhaka to Rangpur Long March” at a restaurant near the Hatikumrul intersection in Sirajganj.

According to him, the country is currently facing a number of crises, including shortages of electricity and gas. Although the government repeatedly claims that the law and order situation is satisfactory, he said, the situation on the ground is different.

“The law and order situation has deteriorated severely, creating concern and frustration among ordinary people,” he said.

The Jamaat leader said people had voted on two issues in the national election held after the fall of what he called the “authoritarian fascist government.”

“One was to form a government, and the other was to reform those provisions of the Constitution that created opportunities for a government to become fascist,” he said.

He claimed that voters had endorsed constitutional reform in a referendum by voting in favour of “Yes”, but alleged that the government was delaying implementation of that verdict.

“We have been vocal inside Parliament about implementing the people’s verdict. At the same time, through rallies and public meetings, we have repeatedly urged the government to implement the referendum verdict without delay,” he said.

“But the government has paid no heed to our calls. That is why we have been forced to announce programmes such as the long march. The government itself has forced us onto the streets,” he added.

ATM Azharul Islam said his party had earlier urged the government not to bring issues that could be discussed and resolved in Parliament onto the streets.

“We told the government not to push issues that can be discussed and settled in Parliament onto the streets. But the government ignored that call and has brought the situation to the streets,” he said.

He also said the long march had been announced to protest what he described as discrimination in different sectors.

As part of the Dhaka-to-Rangpur Long March, two roadside rallies will be held in Sirajganj and Bogura, which he described as gateways to Rangpur.

Leaders of the 11-party alliance are expected to address the rallies, he said.

The committee members inspected the proposed rally venues on Saturday as part of preparations for the programme.

Calling on people from Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna and surrounding areas to join the programme, ATM Azharul Islam said, “You are requested to be present here by 11am on September 19 and make the long march and rally successful.”

He urged people to remain vocal about their demands, saying greater public participation would put greater pressure on the government to meet those demands.

“We have taken to the streets with the demands of the people. We hope the long march and roadside rallies will be successful through spontaneous participation by the people,” he said.

The Jamaat leader urged local organisers to take all necessary measures to ensure that the long march and rallies are held peacefully, orderly and without disruption.

He also sought cooperation from law enforcement agencies, saying he hoped they would play a “people-friendly role” rather than behave as, in his words, the previous “fascist government” had done.

He concluded by seeking divine assistance for the success of the September 19 long march and roadside rallies.

The meeting was attended by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan MP, Central Executive Council member Principal Md Shahabuddin, Bogura regional assistant director Professor Nazrul Islam, Pabna district Jamaat Ameer Professor Abu Taleb Mondal MP, Bogura district Jamaat Ameer Principal Abdul Haque, Bogura metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Abidur Rahman Sohel, Sirajganj district Jamaat Ameer Principal Maulana Shahinur Alam, and other leaders from Bogura, Pabna and Joypurhat districts.