Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has warned the government to implement the six-point demands of the 11-party alliance by December or face a call for resignation.
Speaking at a rally in Feni’s Mohipal during the alliance’s Dhaka-Chattogram long march on Saturday, Shafiqur said, “Footsteps of a new fascism are being heard.” He warned that the government would have to step down if the demands were not met.
The long march ended peacefully despite earlier tensions over anti-government warnings, counter-statements and allegations of fuel wastage.
The Jamaat-led alliance’s demands include implementation of the July Charter and referendum verdict, trial of those killed during the July uprising, resolution of electricity, oil, gas and fertiliser crises, curbing extortion and corruption to control rising prices, improving law and order, and ending narrow partisanisation.
At the concluding rally at Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan, Shafiqur alleged that the government was ignoring public grievances and creating conditions for instability.
He claimed that gold snatchers arrested at Dhaka airport recently had initially identified themselves as “Awami League men” but were later found to be allegedly linked to BNP. “These are the real covert actors,” he said.
He also alleged that Chattogram’s mayor had remained in office after the expiry of his term, describing it as contrary to good governance and “a fresh example of fascism”. “Resign from the post and return through an election,” he said.
Criticising the government over the energy crisis, Shafiqur said people were suffering from gas and electricity shortages while being forced to pay “phantom bills”. He also blamed the government for rising fuel prices and the cost of essential goods.
He alleged that the government had ignored the mandate of 70 per cent of the people and deceived the public.
Shafiqur said a broader movement would be announced soon, adding that it would not be linked to Eid or any particular occasion.
“The call for a movement will not depend on any specific time or festival. It will come whenever the people need it,” he said.
He said attempts to suppress the movement through inducements had failed, adding that the alliance would not compromise.
“The people will ultimately win this struggle. Fascists, extortionists, corrupt individuals and those who bow before forces of domination will be defeated,” he said.
At the rally, NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam accused the government of creating conditions that could allow the return of the “fallen authoritarian regime”.
“We are not creating any opportunity for the fallen authoritarian regime to return; rather, you are creating that path. You are failing to solve people’s problems and ensure their rights. As a result, people are looking for alternatives, and today’s long march has shown them who those alternative forces are,” he said.
The programme began at 8:15am from Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar and ended at Laldighi Maidan in the evening after rallies in Narayanganj, Cumilla and Feni.
Shafiqur said the alliance had taken to the streets not for any party or group but on behalf of the country’s 180 million people.
At Shimrail in Narayanganj, he accused the government of failing to implement the July Charter and referendum verdict, saying people would not forgive it for breaking its promises.
At Cumilla, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain criticised the government over the energy crisis, saying it had failed to explain rising electricity bills and gas shortages.
“If there was a card that could guarantee gas and electricity supply to households, it should be given to the people,” he said.
“I feel that we are gradually returning to the previous era. We are again having to cook using firewood. If we continue moving backwards like this, we may even reach the Stone Age,” he added.
Jamaat naib-e-ameer and Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said the programme was not aimed at toppling the government but was a warning.
NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said the six-point demand would become a single-point demand for the government’s resignation if they were not met.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque alleged that the government was following Sheikh Hasina’s path and misleading people through farmer cards and family cards.
Oli Ahmed said public dissatisfaction had grown since the formation of the government and warned that attempts to obstruct the movement would face stronger resistance.
Oli said that although Hasina had left power, the current government was running the country in her style.
AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju claimed that 31 people had died in BNP’s internal conflicts over the past six months, calling it evidence of the party’s failure in governance.
Govt rejects allegations
Several BNP leaders criticised the long march, accusing the alliance of attempting to create instability.
Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapan said the programme was aimed at creating instability while parliament was functioning.
“The 11-party alliance is attempting to create instability in the country through this programme. Such a programme goes against the expectations of ordinary people,” he said.
He warned that domestic and international actors could take advantage of the situation.
Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan said in a Facebook post that road blockages and the alleged wastage of nearly 100,000 litres of fuel during the programme had increased public suffering and worsened the fuel crisis.
Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni said holding such a programme before allowing sufficient time to assess the government’s performance was inappropriate.
Liberation War Affairs Minister Ishraq Hossain said spending large amounts of fuel during a long march amid fuel shortages was a waste of national resources.
The alliance has announced further programmes, including rail-based long marches from Dhaka to Rangpur on 19 September, Dhaka to Khulna on 10 October and Dhaka to Sylhet on 24 October, followed by a grand rally in Dhaka on 14 November.
