The 11-party opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami will observe a long march from Dhaka to Chattogram on Saturday, to press home a six-point demand, including the implementation of the people's verdict in the February 12 referendum, trial of the July 2024 mass killings, and resolution of the multi-dimensional energy crisis.
The alliance is also demanding measures to control soaring prices of essential commodities, an end to extortion and corruption, improvement of the law and order situation and an end to narrow partisanisation.
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Jamaat Secretary General and Long March Implementation Committee Convener Mia Golam Parwar on Friday urged the government to provide all necessary administrative cooperation to ensure the success of what he described as the largest peaceful political programme of the opposition.
He warned that if any government party or anyone creates an adverse situation during the long march, they would lose further public trust and face public anger.
“We hope that the government and anyone from the ruling party will not take such an unwise step,” he said, while briefing reporters after a final preparatory meeting.
The meeting was held at 11am at Jamaat's central office in the city’s Moghbazar area to finalise preparations for the programme.
Golam Parwar said preparations for Saturday's programme had already been completed and around 1,500 vehicles were expected to join the long march.
The inaugural rally will begin at 7am at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka, while rallies will be held at a number of points along the route.
The first roadside rally will be held near the truck stand by the Kanchpur Bridge in Narayanganj, followed by rallies at Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad in Cumilla, Mohipal in Feni and Mirsarai and the final rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.
“We have so far received information that a huge number of people will join there (the final rally in Laldighi Maidan),” said Golam Parwar.
He clarified that delegates participating in the long march would not get down from their vehicles to join the roadside rallies. Local party units will organise those rallies.
He said vehicles in the procession would carry stickers and no vehicle would be allowed to join the procession.
Media vehicles will also be allowed to join the procession to cover the programme, he said.
The Jamaat leader said the opposition has continued to play a systematic, constructive and responsible role both inside and outside Parliament since the formation of the government following the 13th parliamentary election.
Talking about their demands, he said although six months had passed since the formation of the government, it had not taken any initiative to implement the people's verdict given in the referendum.
“Rather, it has turned away from implementing the people's verdict,” he said.
Noting that they are dreaming of building their dream of Bangladesh, he said, “We are not waging any movement to overthrow the government. Our demand, as well as the people's demand, is that you accept the people's verdict in the referendum. Accept our six-point demands,” he said.
Golam Parwar stressed for maintaining political tolerance between the ruling and opposition parties following the 2024 July political change. “Let it now be proven that there is mutual tolerance between the opposition and ruling parties and that we have come out of the negative culture of political violence,” he said.
He said the alliance did not anticipate any sabotage during the programme and expressed confidence that the long march could be held peacefully without causing any loss of life or property.
The Jamaat leader expected thousands of people to greet the long march from both sides of the road.
The final preparatory meeting was attended, among others, by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and 11-party alliance Coordinator AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Jagpa spokesperson Rashed Pradhan, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim.