National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on Saturday said the 11-party alliance’s long march from Dhaka to Chattogram is aimed at preventing the emergence of a new autocrat in the country.

“No matter how many obstacles and hindrances come today, our long march will reach Chattogram. On August 5, 2024, people from across Bangladesh gathered in Dhaka through the ‘Long March to Dhaka’ programme and brought down the autocrat,” he said.

“This time, we have started our long march from Dhaka towards Chattogram and other divisions. This long march is aimed at blocking the path of those who are becoming autocrats anew,” Nahid added.

He made the remarks at the inaugural rally of the 11-party alliance’s long march from Dhaka to Chattogram in Motijheel on Saturday morning.

The 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, began the long march from the capital towards Chattogram to press home its six-point demands, including implementation of the people's verdict in the February 12 referendum, trial of the mass killings during the 2024 July Uprising and a resolution to the multi-dimensional energy crisis.

The alliance is also demanding measures to control soaring prices of essential commodities, an end to extortion and corruption, improvements in the law and order situation, and an end to narrow partisanisation.

Nahid said the programme was also aimed at protesting against extortion, terrorism and drugs, as well as those allegedly involved in syndicates to increase the prices of oil, gas and electricity.

“This long march is against extortionists, terrorists and drugs. This long march is against those who are conspiring to raise the prices of oil, gas and electricity through syndicates. This long march is against those who have betrayed the verdict of 70 percent of the people,” he said.

Warning the government against obstructing the programme, Nahid said the alliance would maintain a peaceful approach.

“We will carry out the programme peacefully. However, if the government tries to obstruct it, the six-point demands of this long march will turn into a single-point demand,” he said.