Govt ignored, insulted people’s referendum verdict: Shafiqur at Gazipur rally

Highlights:

• Shafiqur Rahman says long march seeks to make Bangladesh corruption-free and oppose ‘hegemony’
• Adds that movement seeks implementation of the people’s referendum verdict
• Alliance demands justice for those responsible for July killings
• Also demands solutions to electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser shortages
• Mia Golam Porwar accuses government of deceiving and betraying people

Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has accused the government of ignoring and insulting what he described as the people’s verdict in the referendum.

The long march of the opposition alliance led by his party is aimed at making the country free from corruption and opposing “hegemony”, Shafiqur said while addressing a roadside rally in Gazipur around 9:45am today (19 September), which is a part of the alliance’s Dhaka–Rangpur long march, calling on the people to make the event successful.

“We have not taken to the streets with any party-specific demands. We have launched this movement to ensure the implementation of the people’s verdict in the referendum.”

The long march has been organised with a number of demands that include implementation of the referendum verdict; bringing those responsible for the July killings to justice; resolving shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser; curbing rising prices of essential commodities; ending corruption, extortion, land grabbing; and implementing the Teesta mega-plan.

Shafiqur warned that the eight-point demands raised to secure people’s rights can turn into a single-point demand at any time.

“These are your demands, and we have taken to the streets for the public. We have not come out with any party demands. We have come out with the demands of 18 crore people,” he said.

He said 70% of voters backed the “Yes” side in the referendum, held alongside the 12 February general election.

“The government has ignored the referendum and insulted you. We have taken to the streets to seek redress for that,” he said.

The Jamaat chief said the government will be forced to implement the people’s verdict.

“We are telling the government that today we have taken to the streets with eight demands. These eight demands can turn into a single demand at any time. We will return home only after our demands are met,” he added.

At the rally, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad said, “We are not against the government, nor are we against the country. We want to build a country free from terrorism, extortion and corruption. 

“But the present government is unable to do so. We want reforms, and that must be carried out.”  

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis chief Mamunul Haque said, “We are marching to the northern region to establish our rights. Eleven parties have taken to the streets with the people’s demands. We will return home after achieving success in the movement.”

At the same event, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged that the government has “deceived and betrayed” the people by failing to accept the referendum verdict.

“We are informing the public of this failure. The government will be compelled to implement the Teesta mega-plan immediately,” he added.

Earlier, the long march was inaugurated with a rally at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital, where senior leaders of the 11-party alliance addressed the gathering.

Following the rally, the long-march convoy set off for Rangpur around 8am.