BNP will pay heavy price if it ignores referendum mandate, Shafiqur warns as opposition bloc begins long march

Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has warned that the BNP government will pay a heavy price if it fails to implement the public mandate of the referendum, as the 11-Party Alliance began a long march from Dhaka to press for its seven-point demands.

Speaking as the chief guest at the opening rally at the southern gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital at 7am today (31 October), Shafiqur said the alliance had taken to the streets to raise public demands, not for the interests of any individual or party.

“Among our seven-point demands, the primary demand is the implementation of the public mandate of the referendum. If this demand were met, the remaining six demands would not have raised their heads,” he said.

He accused the BNP government of betraying public trust and warned that the alliance would continue its movement until its demands were met.

“We are stating clearly: accept our demands. Implement the public mandate of the referendum. We will not rest until our demands are met,” he said, urging people to make the long march a success.

The alliance’s seven demands include implementing the referendum mandate, holding trials over the July genocide, resolving the electricity, oil, gas and fertiliser crises, controlling prices of essential commodities, curbing corruption, extortion and land grabbing, improving law and order, and ending narrow party-based politicisation.

Addressing the rally, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman and former minister Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad alleged that districts, city corporations and other public bodies had become BNP offices since the party came to power, with tenders being controlled from there.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Allama Mamunul Haque accused the government of disrespecting the public by failing to implement the referendum mandate and the July Charter. He also criticised the deteriorating law and order situation and the shortages of oil and gas.

Jamaat Secretary General said the BNP was moving towards fascism and one-party rule instead of carrying out constitutional reforms. He also condemned the injury of 11-Party Alliance activists during the Thakurgaon-1 constituency by-election.

The rally was moderated by Jamaat Executive Council member and Dhaka City South Secretary Shafiqul Islam Masud, alongside Dhaka City North Assistant Secretary Fakhruddin Manik. Other alliance leaders and student representatives also addressed the gathering.

The convoy left the rally venue around 8am for Khulna, Jhenaidah and Kushtia.

After crossing the Padma Bridge, it is scheduled to hold roadside rallies at Naodoba in Shariatpur, Katakhali intersection in Bagerhat, Babri Square and Phultala in Khulna, Murli intersection in Jashore, and the bus terminal in Jhenaidah. The march will end with a rally at Shahid Abrar Fahad Stadium in Kushtia.

The alliance previously held long marches towards Chattogram on 5 September and Rangpur on 19 September.