Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said their 'long march' programmes are not aimed at fulfilling the wishes of any person, party or group, but realizing the demands of the country’s 180 million people.
“On the way from Dhaka (to Rangpur), thousands of mothers, sisters and children stood by the roadside to greet and congratulate us. When mothers and sisters (women) take to the streets, our demands will be met—Insha'Allah,” he said.
Dr Shafiqur, also the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, made the remark while addressing a street rally at Chowmatha intersection in Palashbari, Gaibandha in the evening as part of the Dhaka-Rangpur Long March of the 11-party alliance.
The 11-party opposition alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, was staging its second long march in a fortnight, this time from Dhaka to Rangpur, with an eight-point demand on Saturday.
The long march towards Rangpur was launched from Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka in the morning. Five street rallies were held at Bhogra bypass in Gazipur, Nagar Jalpai in Tangail, Hatikumrul in Sirajganj, Charmatha in Bogra, and Palashbari in Gaibandha before the concluding gathering at Rangpur Zilla School.
Earlier on September 5, the alliance held its first long march from Dhaka to Chattogram with a six-point demand, including the implementation of the verdict reflected in the February 12 referendum; trial of the July 2024 mass killings; resolution of the electricity, fuel, gas and fertilizer crisis; controlling soaring prices of essential commodities, making an end to corruption, extortion and occupation; and improvement of law and order.
Ahead of the Dhaka-Rangpur long march, the opposition alliance extended the six-point demand to an eight-point demand by incorporating two other demands – making an end to narrow partisanisation and implementation of Teesta mega plan.
The opposition leader at Gaibandha rally said they would not have organised the long march if the July Charter had been implemented, the people’s verdict in the referendum had been honoured, corruption and extortion had been stopped and farmers had received fertilizer.
Dr Shafiqur said people could no longer tolerate oppression. “Not a single one of our demands is for the party; all are for the people,” he said.
“If the government does not accept the demands, our eight-point demand will turn into nine, 10 or even one-point demand,” he said, urging people to prepare to join the long march to Dhaka.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikram, urged the government to form the constitution reform council to reform the Constitution, even if belatedly, to free the people, said a press release here.