Calling for the formation of a reform council in parliament, the Jamaat ameer said they had expected a council similar to a parliament formed through a public vote, where members could sit and decide on reforms.
Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman speaks at a roadside rally on the Khulna-Mawa Highway during the 11-party alliance’s long march on 31 October. Photo: TBS
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Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman speaks at a roadside rally on the Khulna-Mawa Highway during the 11-party alliance’s long march on 31 October. Photo: TBS
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has warned that the 11-Party Alliance will launch a one-point movement if the government fails to meet its seven-point demands, saying the coalition will be forced to take further action to protect people’s rights.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at the alliance’s concluding rally in Kushtia last night (31 October), held at the Shaheed Abrar Fahad Stadium ground after its long march from Dhaka.
“Not a single demand is our personal or party demand. All of them are demands to establish the rights of the people. If you accept the seven-point demands, there will be no need for a one-point demand; but if the seven points are not met, the one-point demand will become inevitable,” Shafiqur said.
He added that the alliance would be forced to call the movement in the interest of the country and its people.
Calling for the formation of a reform council in parliament, the Jamaat ameer said they had expected a council similar to a parliament formed through a public vote, where members could sit and decide on reforms.
However, he alleged that more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats had been secured through manipulation, prompting the government to disregard the demands.
Shafiqur also said that throughout history, groups that disregarded and insulted the people’s mandate had faced tragic consequences.
Referring to the long march from Dhaka to Kushtia, he asked rally participants whether they were prepared to march from Kushtia to Dhaka if the alliance called a one-point movement.
He urged people to join the movement to secure their rights, even if they lacked money and food, and said he would never bow to injustice.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar accused the BNP of breaking its promises to the people and engaging in corruption and looting. He said the alliance had not wanted to take to the streets in protest within eight months, but circumstances had forced it to do so.
Alleging politicisation from the Secretariat to the union level, Golam Porwar also claimed that bribes of Tk12 lakh to Tk20 lakh were taken to award fertiliser dealerships.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque said Bangladesh would not be allowed to become a state or province of another country.
He warned that the seven-point demands could turn into a one-point demand at any moment if the government failed to provide a satisfactory response. He urged alliance leaders and activists to remain prepared to march towards Dhaka if such a call came.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad said they wanted a Bangladesh free from terrorism, extortion and corruption.
He said people were still not receiving their rightful share under the current government and called for greater efforts to end politicisation across different sectors. He added that they stood with the people in the movement.
The rally was moderated by Kushtia District Jamaat Ameer Khandakar AKM Ali Muhsin and Secretary Enamul Haque.
It was also addressed by National Citizen Party (NCP) Joint Convener Abdul Hannan Masud and central and local leaders and MPs from different alliance partners, including the NCP, AB Party, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party, Labour Party and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Earlier, the long march convoy set off from the southern gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka at around 8:30am yesterday, heading towards Kushtia through the Dhaka-Mawa Highway.
It travelled through Bhanga in Faridpur, Gopalganj, Khulna, Rupsha Bridge, Jashore and Jhenaidah, passing in front of the main gate of Islamic University along the way.
The convoy reached Kushtia around 11pm after covering approximately 425 kilometres and passing through 19 districts. Several roadside rallies were held along the route.
Shafiqur took the stage with senior alliance leaders at 11:33pm and began his speech at 11:48pm. He spoke for about six minutes, and the programme ended at 11:57pm.
The 11-Party Alliance had earlier held long marches towards Chattogram on 5 September and Rangpur on 19 September.
Following the programme in the Khulna division, the alliance plans to hold its next long march towards Sylhet on 21 November.
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