Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said they would remain on the streets until the people’s demands are fulfilled, accusing the government of deceiving people and breaking its promises.
“We have taken to the streets to realise the people’s demands. We will return home only after those demands are fulfilled,” he said while addressing a rally at Paduar Bazar Biswaroad in Comilla as part of Dhaka-Chittagong long march led by the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance.
He said people shed blood on the streets in the struggle against authoritarianism but their demands have not yet been fulfilled.
The Jamaat chief said the alliance has taken to the streets to press for implementation of the public mandate in the referendum and the spirit of the July mass uprising. “We have come to the streets to restore gas supplies to your homes and ensure electricity.”
He also questioned whether people are receiving uninterrupted electricity and gas and whether extortion is taking place. He said the country is overwhelmed by drugs and called for effective measures to control the problem.
Jamaat Naib-e-Ameer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Dr Abdullah Muhammad Taher also addressed the rally, calling for implementation of the alliance’s six-point demand and the referendum mandate.
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said uninterrupted supplies of oil, gas and electricity must be ensured. He warned that the government would not be able to remain in office if it fails to meet the people’s basic demands.
Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed said the mandate given by 70 percent of people must be implemented, warning that the government would have to be made to fail if the mandate was not automatically implemented.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque said people must remain prepared to face tougher challenges ahead to change their fortunes and take the country in the right direction.
He said the long march marked the beginning of the second phase of the ongoing movement.
The Dhaka-Chittagong long march began in the capital on Saturday morning with the alliance’s six-point demands.
After holding roadside rallies at different locations, including Shimrail in Narayanganj, the procession reached Cumilla and held the rally at Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad before heading towards Chattogram.
Leaders of the 11-party alliance and local Jamaat leaders also attended the programme.
Their six-point demands are the implementation of people's verdict in the February 12 referendum, trial of the July 2024 mass killings, resolution of the multi-dimensional energy crisis, measures to control soaring prices of essential commodities, an end to extortion and corruption and improvement of the law and order situation and an end to narrow partisanisation.