Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said the opposition would continue its movement until the referendum verdict is implemented, accusing the government of failing to honour its commitment despite the prime minister’s pre-election pledge.
Addressing a divisional rally organised by the 11-party alliance at Rangpur Zilla School Ground, he also demanded immediate implementation of the Teesta Master Plan, criticised the government over border push-ins and called for concrete action instead of political promises.
The rally was held to press for implementation of the referendum verdict, execution of the Teesta Master Plan, an end to cross-border push-ins and measures to reduce public suffering.
Speaking as the chief guest, Shafiqur recalled the prime minister’s appeal before the election for voters to cast two ballots-one for his party and another in favour of the referendum.
“The prime minister asked people to cast two votes-one for his party and another in favour of the referendum. He fulfilled the first promise but not the second,” he said.
“We will not move even an inch from our demand until the referendum verdict is implemented. We cannot betray the nation after making this commitment to the people,” he added.
On the Teesta Master Plan, the Jamaat chief said there should be no further delays in implementing the long-awaited project.
He alleged that despite repeated commitments before the election, the government had failed to allocate funds for the project in the national budget.
“We no longer want promises. We want practical action. If the current government cannot implement the Teesta project, we hope the 11-party alliance will do so if elected in the future,” he said.
Shafiqur also criticised the government’s response to reported cross-border push-ins from India, alleging that authorities had remained silent while local residents and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel resisted such incidents.
“The government has not uttered a word on the issue. It should stand with the people and safeguard the country’s interests,” he said.
He further warned that no one would be allowed to compromise Bangladesh’s sovereignty and said corruption would not be tolerated under any future administration led by the alliance.
The rally was chaired by NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, who accused the BNP of repeatedly failing to honour public mandates and betraying successive mass movements.
He alleged that the BNP had benefited politically from every mass uprising in the country’s history but had failed to uphold the aspirations that emerged from those movements.
Nahid also reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to continuing its campaign both inside parliament and on the streets until the referendum verdict is implemented.
Despite heavy rainfall that began shortly after the programme started, thousands of supporters from across Rangpur Division remained at the venue throughout the nearly three-hour rally.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, AB Party General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad and leaders of other alliance partners also addressed the gathering.
