Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said the 11-party alliance would continue its movement until its demands were met, pointing to the participation of women along the route of its Dhaka-Rangpur long march.
“When mothers and sisters take to the streets, our demands will be met, Inshallah,” Shafiqur said at a roadside rally at Palashbari Choumatha in Gaibandha on Saturday evening.
He said the long march was not intended to fulfil the interests of any individual, party or group but to press what the alliance describes as demands concerning Bangladesh’s 180 million people.
“Not one of our demands is for the party; they are for the people,” Shafiqur said. “If the government does not accept the demands, our eight points will turn into nine, 10, or even one.” Similar remarks by Shafiqur during Saturday’s long march were reported by UNB.
Shafiqur said the alliance would not have organised the march had the government implemented the referendum verdict and July Charter, curbed corruption and extortion, and addressed the fertiliser shortage.
He called on supporters to prepare for a future long march to Dhaka.
“On our way from Dhaka, thousands of mothers, sisters and children stood along the roads to greet us,” he said.
The Jamaat-led alliance began its long march from Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Saturday morning. It is pressing eight demands, including implementation of the referendum verdict, justice for the July killings, improvement in law and order, solutions to electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser shortages, curbs on rising prices, an end to corruption, extortion, land grabbing and partisanisation, and implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.
The convoy held roadside rallies in Gazipur, Tangail, Sirajganj and Bogura before reaching Palashbari, where supporters had gathered along the road from the Water Development Board area to BRAC intersection.
Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Col. (retd.) Oli Ahmed also addressed the Palashbari rally, calling for constitutional reforms and saying the government should form a reform council.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque accused the ruling BNP of betraying the public after coming to power and said his party would continue to press for implementation of the referendum verdict.
The convoy was scheduled to continue to Rangpur for its concluding rally at the Rangpur Zilla School ground.