Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has warned that the 11-party alliance could turn its eight-point campaign into a one-point movement at any time if the government fails to meet its demands.
Shafiqur issued the warning on Saturday as the Jamaat-led alliance took its campaign from Dhaka to Rangpur, holding six roadside rallies along the way.
The convoy set off from Manik Mia Avenue in the capital and travelled through Gazipur, Tangail, Sirajganj, Bogura and Gaibandha before ending at Rangpur Zilla School ground at night.
It was the alliance’s second long march in two weeks, following a Dhaka-Chattogram programme on 5 September.
At a roadside rally at Nagar Jalfai intersection in Tangail, Shafiqur told supporters that the movement could escalate if the government continued to ignore the alliance’s demands.
“Our six points have become eight points. In the interest of the people, the number of demands may increase, and in the interest of the people, it may become necessary to abolish all the demands and announce a one-point demand. Are you ready?” he said.
He then signalled that further street programmes could follow.
“Today’s long march is towards you. The next long march will be from here towards Dhaka. Everyone should remain prepared.”
The alliance’s campaign centres on implementation of the referendum verdict, justice over the July killings, shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser, commodity prices, corruption, law and order, what it describes as partisan politicisation and implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.
Shafiqur accused the government of failing to honour the referendum result, saying nearly 70 per cent of voters had backed the “Yes” side.
“But instead of respecting that public verdict, the government has betrayed the people,” he said. “We have taken to the streets to free the country from the new autocracy.”
Shafiqur said the movement represented the interests of the country’s 180 million people rather than those of any single political party.
He vowed that the alliance would continue its campaign until its demands were met.
“There will be no rest or pause in between,” he said.
He also accused the government of failing to honour a commitment that unelected people would not be allowed to govern, pointing to the appointment of administrators in different places.
At Dhunat intersection in Sherpur Upazila of Bogura, Shafiqur shifted the focus to the economic pressures facing ordinary people.
He said farmers were struggling with fertiliser shortages, people were finding it difficult to afford food, young people lacked jobs and families were worried about security.
Banks, he said, were short of money while a section of people remained focused on enriching themselves.
Without naming another political party, Shafiqur criticised what he described as a failure to create employment.
“Although there was talk of creating employment, in reality, instead of creating jobs, extortionists have been sent into the field,” he said.
He said people had expected jobs and security but were instead facing allegations of extortion and corruption.
“This is not the programme of any single party or a party’s own programme,” he said. “This long march by the 11-party alliance is for securing the rights of the country’s 180 million people.”
He called on people to unite against corruption, extortion and what he described as domination.
Senior leaders of the 11-party alliance joined the inaugural rally and roadside meetings throughout the day.
They included NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, LDP Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party Ameer Maulana Abdul Qaiyum Sobhani, Amar Bangladesh Party President Mujibur Rahman Manju, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party Vice-President Engineer Rashed Pradhan, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Bangladesh Development Party Chairman Anwarul Islam Chan and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon Secretary General Mufti Fakhrul Islam.
Also present were NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Jamaat MPs Nurul Islam Bulbul and Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, and 11-party alliance Coordinator and Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad.
