Will stay on streets until people’s demands are met: Opposition leader

Opposition leader 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 the people and breaking its promises.

“People shed blood on the streets in the struggle against authoritarianism, but their demands have not yet been fulfilled,” he said while addressing a rally at Paduar Bazar Biswaroad in Cumilla as part of the Dhaka-Chattogram long march organised by the Jamaat-led 11-party opposition alliance.

The long march began from Shapla Chattar in Matijheel, Dhaka, following a rally held at around 7am.

Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the 11-party alliance, delivered the opening remarks.

The six-point demands of the long march are: implementation of the people’s verdict in the February 12 referendum; trial of those responsible for the July 2024 mass killings; resolution of the multidimensional 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.

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 failed to meet the people’s basic demands.

Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed said the mandate given by 70 percent of the people must be implemented, warning that the government would have to be made to fail if the mandate was not implemented automatically.

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.

On its way to Chattogram, the alliance is scheduled to hold several roadside rallies, including in Narayanganj, Cumilla and Feni.

The long march will conclude with a public rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.