Leaders and activists of the 11-party alliance were stopped by police on Thursday while marching towards the Secretariat to protest the gas and fuel crisis, high electricity bills, the deteriorating law and order situation, and soaring prices of essential commodities.
Addressing supporters in front of the Secretariat after the march was halted at around 12:45pm, opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer said: “We have not come to disrespect anyone. We have come with the people’s demands. I came to the Secretariat to convey those demands to the people’s representatives.”
He said similar programs were being held across the country.
“Today, the same program is taking place not only in Dhaka but across Bangladesh. We believe in peaceful movements. I have come to the Secretariat to convey the people’s demands to their representatives,” he said.
Calling on the government to receive the memorandum, he said: “If this procession is to be stopped, the minister concerned or a representative must come here. We want to hand over the people’s demands to them. If they succeed in implementing those demands, we will thank them. But if they fail, we will not remain silent. Our movements and programs will continue.”