Warns of resistance if obstructed

MM Rahmatullah: The 11-party political alliance has announced a long march from Dhaka to Chattogram on September 5, pressing six demands including implementation of the referendum verdict, trial of those responsible for the July mass killings, and an end to the ongoing power, fuel and fertiliser crises.

Alliance leaders have warned that they will resist any attempt to obstruct the programme through attacks, intimidation or what they described as “artificial traffic congestion” on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

The announcement came at a press interaction held at Al-Falah Auditorium in the capital on Monday.

Speaking at the programme, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar said the long march was being organised to press six specific demands: implementation of the referendum verdict; trial of the July mass killings; resolution of power, oil, gas and fertiliser shortages; containment of soaring prices of essential commodities; improvement of the law-and-order situation; and an end to narrow partisan politics.

He said preparations for the long march had already been completed.

Golam Parwar alleged that over the past six months the government had failed to demonstrate due respect for democracy and had also failed to address public suffering and shortages of electricity, fertiliser and gas.

He further alleged that opposition lawmakers were being subjected to harsh language both inside and outside parliament and that ruling-party activists had been accused of attacking opposition MPs.

The Jamaat leader urged the government, senior ruling-party figures and government officials to cooperate with the peaceful programme and refrain from creating any obstacles.

Warning of a strong response if the long march is obstructed, he said any attempt to block a peaceful programme through attacks, intimidation or sabotage would demonstrate that the government did not embrace the aspiration for a “new Bangladesh” that emerged after the July uprising under the framework of the July Charter.

He also warned that any obstruction to the long march could further increase public distrust in the government.

Other leaders of the 11-party alliance said they would reach Chattogram`s Laldighi Maidan on September 5 despite any obstacles. They said the programme was intended to take their demands for people`s rights and implementation of the July Charter directly to the people.

The alliance leaders also claimed that severe traffic congestion had already developed on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway following the announcement of the long march, describing it as “artificial congestion.”

They warned that if sand-laden or empty trucks were deliberately used to block the procession`s route on the day of the programme, the alliance would resist such attempts.

At the same time, they sought cooperation from the police administration, government officials, traffic authorities and other relevant agencies to ensure the programme could proceed peacefully.

According to the organisers, the long march will begin at 7:00am on September 5 following a rally at Shapla Chattar in the capital.

The procession is scheduled to pass through Narayanganj and Cumilla`s Padua Bazar Bishwaroad, with roadside rallies planned at Mahipal in Feni and Mirsarai in Chattogram.

Senior leaders of the 11-party alliance are also expected to address gatherings at different locations along the route as part of additional programmes, although the locations and timing of such events have not been fixed.

Local leaders of the alliance will be responsible for organising the roadside rallies in their respective areas.

The press interaction also featured remarks from other leaders of the alliance and a question-and-answer session with journalists.

Those present included Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran, National Citizen Party Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, JAGPA Vice-President Engineer Rashed Pradhan, Nezame Islam Party Senior Naib-e-Ameer Maulana Abdul Majed Athari, LDP Acting Secretary General Billal Hossain Miazi, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Senior Joint Secretary General Ataullah Amin, BDP Chairman Advocate Anwarul Islam Chan, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan Secretary General Mufti Fakhrul Islam, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Dhaka Metropolitan Secretary Maulana Morshed Siddiqui, Jamaat-e-Islami Central Executive Council members Mobarak Hossain and Dr Rezaul Karim, and BDP General Secretary Nizam-ul Haque Naim.

The alliance leaders called upon their activists at all levels as well as the people of Bangladesh to make the September 5 long march a success.