The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance will stage a long march from Dhaka to Chattogram on 5 September to press home its six-point demands, including implementation of the referendum result, curbing price hikes and ending the “politicisation” of state institutions.
The programme will conclude with a rally at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram at 5:15pm on the same day.
The alliance announced the programme at a press conference at the Chattogram city Jamaat office today (3 September).
Mohammad Shahjahan, central assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and director of its Chattogram region, announced the programme in a written statement on behalf of the 11-party alliance.
He said the long march was being organised to press for people’s demands and strengthen calls for state reforms amid the country’s current political, economic and law-and-order situation.
The alliance’s six demands are immediate implementation of the people’s verdict in the referendum; a fair and impartial trial for the July massacre; resolution of shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser; measures to curb rising prices of essential commodities; improvement of the law-and-order situation; an end to political influence in state institutions and the administration.
“People’s opinions and the verdict of referendum cannot be ignored under any circumstances,” Shahjahan said, calling for the referendum result to be implemented promptly in line with public expectations on key state matters.
He also demanded impartial investigations and trials into every killing and human rights violation, regardless of political identity.
Regarding the electricity and gas shortages, Shahjahan said the crisis was disrupting industries, businesses and people’s daily lives. The alliance called for a permanent solution to the shortages and demanded adequate fertiliser supplies for agricultural production.
On rising prices, he said the prices of rice, lentils, edible oil, vegetables, fish, meat and other essentials were beyond the purchasing power of ordinary people. The alliance demanded action against market syndicates and artificial price hikes to bring the prices of essentials within people’s reach.
The alliance also called for effective measures to improve law and order and curb crimes including theft, mugging, robbery, terrorism, extortion and drug-related offences.
The organisers said leaders, activists and members of the public from different parts of the country would join the long march, while people from Chattogram city and district were also expected to attend the rally at Laldighi Maidan.
They said the long march and rally would be held peacefully, in an orderly manner and through democratic means, urging participants to behave responsibly and respect law and order.
The organisers said volunteers and other officials responsible for maintaining order, ensuring security and assisting attendees had been given necessary instructions.
They also urged the administration to extend full cooperation to the peaceful programme and take necessary security measures to ensure the rally proceeds without disruption.
The 11-party alliance called on Chattogram residents to join the long march and rally peacefully, saying a united and peaceful movement would help pave the way for an accountable, democratic, justice-based and people-oriented state.
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