United News of Bangladesh

The Dhaka-Chattogram long march to be organised by the opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance on September 5 will be made successful without giving any scope for provocation, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said Tuesday. “This is a peaceful and systematic political programme. The country’s people will make this long march program a success, InshaAllah, without giving any scope for provocation,” he said at a press briefing at the Jamaat central office in the city. The 11-party alliance is going to organise the long march with a six-point demand including implementation of the public verdict reflected in the referendum, trial of the July mass killings, resolution of the energy and fertiliser crises, control of prices of essential commodities, improvement of the law-and-order situation, and an end to politicisation at all levels of the administration, he said. Jamaat Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman along with other top leaders of the 11-party alliance will lead the long march, said Golam Parwar. “We are moving ahead with extensive preparations. We are witnessing a strong response, enthusiasm and excitement among the people (over the programme),” said the Jamaat Secretary General. He said the long march will begin from Shapla Chattar in Dhaka at 7am on September 5 and end at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. Roadside rallies would be held at various important points along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway during the journey, he added. Parwar said they expect that more than 1,000 vehicles will participate in the long march, while leaders and activists of the alliance and common people from different districts, upazilas and metropolitan areas along the Dhaka-Chattogram route will join the programme. He said the 11-party alliance held a meeting with the police administration on Monday evening to ensure that the long march remained peaceful and disciplined. “We informed the police administration about the relevant route, roadside rallies and different spots of the programme,” he said. The Jamaat general secretary said precautionary measures are being taken to minimise disruption to the movement of common people. “We have planned to keep the long-march convoy on one part of the highway so that regular vehicles can continue to use the other part,” he said. “However, such a large programme may cause temporary inconvenience at some places. So, we apologise to the country’s people in advance,” he added. Parwar said they are seeking cooperation of the administration, political parties, the media and people from all walks of life to make the programme successful. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Dhaka city South unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and Dhaka city North unit Ameer Md Selim Uddin, among others, were present at the briefing.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General, Professor Mia Golam Parwar, has said that his party is not in favor of banning any political organization, including its rivals. Speaking at a member (Rukon) conference at Dr. Shaheed Samnuzzhoha Park in Meherpur on Friday, he reiterated that Jamaat believes in the democratic process and dialogue with all political parties, including the BNP and Islamic parties. Commenting on the issue of banning political organizations, Parwar mentioned that Jamaat was banned four days before August 5. However, the Awami League and Chhatra League couldn’t survive even four days after that. Due to widespread public outrage, Sheikh Hasina and her family were forced to flee the country. He remarked, "The people will decide whether Awami League can contest the elections." He also said that Sheikh Hasina will be brought to justice through legal process and punishment will be implemented. Parwar said that elections should be held at a reasonable time after national reforms. He believes that elections can only be held once an environment for fair elections is created, following reforms of the Election Commission, police administration, and the executive department. Among others, Jamaat Central Council Member Mubarak Hossain, District Ameer Maulana Tajuddin Khan, several central and district-level leaders, were also present.