Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said their eight-point demand could be turned into a single demand at any time depending on the needs of the people.
“We have taken to the streets today with an a set of eight demands. Depending on the needs of people, these eight demands can turn into a single demand at any time. If you remain by our side, Inshallah, we will achieve our demands and return home.”
The Jamaar Ameer said these while speaking at a roadside rally of the party-led 11 party alliance at Bhogra Bypass intersection in Gazipur as part of its long march from Dhaka to Rangpur.
Leaders of the alliance, including, Colonel Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram and Mamunul Haque, addressed the rally.
The rally, which began in the morning, was presided over by Professor Md Jamal Uddin of the Dhaka metropolitan unit Jamaat-e-Islami.
Central, district and metropolitan-level leaders of the alliance also spoke at the programme.
A large number of leaders and activists welcomed the long marchers on both sides of the road as the procession travelled from Tongi to Bhogra.
After the rally, the leaders and activists resumed their journey towards Rangpur in a convoy of vehicles.
The 11-party opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami is holding its second 'long march' from Dhaka to Rangpur on Saturday, seeking public support for their 8-point demand, including the implementation of the “people's verdict” in the February 12 referendum and resolution of the energy and fertilizer crisis.
The 11-party alliance launched the long march towards Rangpur from Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka around 8 am.
Five roadside rallies will be 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.
The other demands are trial of the July 2024 mass killings, taking measures to control soaring prices of essential commodities, an end to corruption, extortion and violence, improvement of the law and order situation and an end to narrow partisanisation.
On September 5 last, the opposition alliance staged its first long march from Dhaka to Chattogram on a six-point demand.
But the alliance expanded it to an 8-point demand ahead of the Dhaka-Rangpur Long March.