The opposition 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, is set for its second long march from the capital towards Rangpur on September 19 to press home a seven-point demand, including the implementation of the “people's verdict in the February 12 referendum, trial of July 2024 mass killings, and resolution of the energy and fertilizer crisis.
In addition to an inaugural meeting at the capital's Manik Mia Avenue and a concluding rally at Rangpur Zilla School, the opposition party will hold five street-corner meetings across five districts on that day.
The other demands are taking measures to control soaring prices of essential commodities, an end to corruption, extortion and violence, improvement of the law and order situation and an end to narrow partisanisation.
Hamidur Rahman Azad, the coordinator of the 11-party alliance and Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, disclosed this information to journalists today at an emergency preparatory meeting of the alliance's liaison committee held at the Leader of the Opposition's official residence in the capital.
The 11-party alliance will launch a long march towards Rangpur from Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka at 7:00 AM. The inaugural rally will continue until 8:00 AM.
Later, roadside rallies will be held at Bhograpara in Gazipur, Nagar Jalfai in Tangail, Sirajganj Chowrasta, Charmatha in Bogra, and Palashbari in Gaibandha before the concluding gathering at Rangpur Zilla School.
Hamidur Rahman said the opposition party’s six-point demand has now evolved into a seven-point demand; demands to halt corruption, land grabbing, and extortion being added to the original six points.
“Since corruption is now operating on a competitive basis, the corruption, land-grabbing, and extortion, surpassing even the previous fascist era,” he claimed.
“That’s why we have incorporated this new demand, thereby expanding our list to seven points,” he added.
He alleged that calls had been made to take appropriate measures to resolve the ongoing oil and gas crisis, yet the government failed to provide a solution.
“Recently, the Leader of the Opposition put forward a proposal to resolve the crisis through discussions involving a task force or committee comprising both the ruling and opposition parties,” he said.
“Following the formation of the committee, the opposition put forward ten proposals, but the government did not take them into consideration,” he also claimed.
The Jamaat leader raised questions on what steps the current government has taken to resolve the crisis during its six months in office, while attributing blame to the previous government.
He claimed that the government failed to take appropriate measures.
“Alongside the gas crisis, a shortage of fertilizer is now emerging. If this crisis persists, the country could face a food shortage, and the entire nation will have to suffer the consequences,” he said.
Leaders of the 11-party alliance, including Nasiruddin Patwary, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party, Tofazzal Hossain Miyaji, Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; and Rashed Prodhan, Spokesperson for the Jatiya Ganotantrik Party were present at the press briefing.