Shafiqur Rahman at 11-party program: Another inevitable revolution is knocking at the door
Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman. Photo: Taken from Jamaat facebook page.
Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shafiqur Rahman has warned that another inevitable revolution is knocking at the door. He also called on the people of the country to be prepared for that revolution.
He issued this warning while speaking at the inaugural rally of the 11-party alliance's long march toward Khulna Division, which was launched from the south gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram in the capital on Saturday morning.
Speaking as chief guest, Shafiqur Rahman said, "Two days ago, the Prime Minister returned to Bangladesh after completing a four-day visit. She must clarify before the nation why she went and what she achieved. In particular, the nation wants to know clearly whether there is any secrecy regarding the Matarbari deep-sea port. Bangladesh cannot be leased to anyone in the name of connectivity."
"Those who accepted slavery in the past are now suffering its consequences. They had a 'didi-dada' (grandparents); who do you have? You will not get away with deceiving the people."
After the Jamaat Amir's speech, the long march convoy set off from the south gate of Baitul Mukarram at around 8:30 am. The convoy will travel via Hanif Flyover along the Dhaka-Mawa highway through Bhanga in Faridpur, Gopalganj, Khulna, crossing the Rupsa Bridge toward Jashore and Kushtia. The route covers about 425 kilometers across 19 districts. Several roadside rallies will be held along the way.
Meanwhile, no one from the National Citizen Party (NCP) was present at the inaugural rally of the long march.
At the rally, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed said that all offices, including district councils, city corporations, and municipalities, have been turned into BNP offices. Government tenders are being controlled from there, and people's homesteads are being grabbed. The Prime Minister must understand that at the end of the day, all blame will fall on her shoulders.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Mamunul Haque said that the root of all crises in the country is the failure to reform the constitution and to implement the verdict of the referendum. The government is disrespecting the people's verdict in various ways.
At the inaugural rally, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the government wants to install party loyalists in all constitutional posts. If they accept the July Charter, they will not be able to do so. That is why they are betraying the people.
Others who spoke at the inaugural rally included Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman (Iran), Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party Acting Amir Abdul Qaiyum Subhani, Bangladesh Development Party Chairman Anwarul Islam, National Democratic Party (JAGPA) spokesperson Rashed Pradhan, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon Secretary General Mufti Fakhrul Islam, Dhaka Metropolitan South Amir Nurul Islam Bulbul, Dhaka Metropolitan North Amir Selim Uddin, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir President Nurul Islam Saddam, and DUCSU VP Md. Abu Sadik (Sadik Kayem), among others.
The 11-party alliance is holding this long march demanding the implementation of the referendum verdict and constitutional reform in line with the July National Charter. Their other demands include trial of the genocide committed during the July mass uprising, resolution of the electricity-fuel-gas and fertilizer crisis, control of prices of daily necessities, improvement of law and order, an end to corruption, extortion and land grabbing, and an end to partisanization at all levels of the administration.
Earlier, the 11-party alliance held long marches toward Chattogram on September 5 and toward Rangpur on September 19. After Khulna Division, the alliance will hold a long march toward Sylhet on November 21.
