Conspiracy to break unity of 11 parties will fail: Mamunul Haque
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque has said the political unity of the 11 parties remains intact and will expand further in the future. He said they are working together to reform the state, determine a roadmap for the Bangladesh of the future, resist domination and prevent the resurgence of fascism. He also said no conspiracy or plot would be able to undermine the unity.
A meeting of the top leaders of the 11 parties was held at the official residence of the opposition leader on Tuesday morning (October 27). Speaking to journalists at noon after the meeting, he made these remarks. The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Top leaders and secretaries general of the alliance partners attended.
Mamunul Haque said they had launched the movement to rebuild the state bearing the responsibility of the thousands of martyrs whose blood had been shed. Therefore, there was no question of falling into any trap of conspiracy or plotting. He said the unity should not be viewed merely as mutual understanding among opposition parties in Parliament. Rather, it had been formed as part of a broader struggle to determine the country’s future system of governance and the direction Bangladesh would take. They were hopeful that the alliance would expand further in the coming days.
He said a long march from Dhaka to Kushtia via Khulna would be held on October 31 as part of the 11-party alliance’s ongoing movement. The alliance had previously held programs heading toward Chattogram and Rangpur. The new program will begin at 7 a.m. with a rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The long march will then proceed along the designated route, with programs at various locations, before ending in Kushtia.
Mamunul Haque said the program had been organized to demand implementation of the referendum results, formation of a Constitutional Reform Council and resolution of crises affecting citizens’ lives. He said they were taking to the streets to establish the rights of the country’s 180 million people. As with previous programs, they expected widespread participation from ordinary people this time.
He said the long march would highlight various issues, including rising prices of essential commodities, shortages of oil, gas, electricity and fertilizer, corruption, extortion and allegations of politicization of the judiciary. They would also demand justice for all killings, including the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, the July massacre and the Shapla massacre. He called on the government to take effective measures to resolve these crises.
Mamunul Haque sought the cooperation of the administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure the program was completed peacefully. He expressed hope that no party would create obstacles to the long march. However, he said they would counter any disruptive activities and ensure the program’s success if such attempts occurred.
On relations between the government and the opposition, Mamunul Haque said they were working with a cooperative attitude both inside and outside Parliament. So far, they had presented their demands through peaceful programs. However, he said the government did not appear willing to make proper use of the opposition’s cooperation. He warned that they would launch tougher programs if necessary to establish people’s rights.
Calling on the government to understand public expectations, he said that after coming to power through the people’s votes, the government must give importance to their wishes and aspirations in running the state. Otherwise, the consequences would not be good.
The Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer also expressed concern over the upcoming local government elections. He alleged that the appointment of politically affiliated individuals to secretary-level positions in the Election Commission had raised questions about how impartial the elections would be. He also expressed concern over the commission’s role in the by-election in Thakurgaon.
Mamunul Haque said the Election Commission must perform its duties impartially. He warned that they would not remain silent if there were any violations in ensuring people’s voting rights. If necessary, they would consider launching a major program against the Election Commission. However, he said Tuesday’s meeting had made no new decision regarding the local government elections. Their previous position remained unchanged.
Mamunul Haque also expressed concern over the country’s law and order situation. He voiced concern over recent remarks by the Inspector General of Police that referred to extrajudicial killings in crossfire incidents. In his view, such remarks from the highest-ranking official responsible for maintaining law and order could create fear among the public.
He also questioned the selection of members of the entourage and the arrangements for the prime minister’s recent foreign trip. Mamunul Haque expressed doubts about the suitability of individuals included in the state delegation and the nature of the arrangements surrounding an important visit. He called on the government to make more responsible and considered decisions on these matters.
He also outlined the opposition’s concerns ahead of the fourth session of Parliament. They were doubtful about how far the government’s proposals and programs in the upcoming session would prioritize public interests and whether it would seek to resolve important national issues in consultation with the opposition. He said opposition parties would hold further discussions before the session to determine their next course of action.
Asked whether the long march from Dhaka to Khulna and Kushtia could trigger an untoward situation in Gopalganj, which lies along the route, Mamunul Haque said there would be no such risk if the administration and law enforcement agencies performed their duties properly. He expressed hope that large numbers of Islamist and patriotic people would be present in Gopalganj. He also said any terrorist activity or attempt at sabotage would be resisted.
Calling on the Gopalganj administration to play a responsible role, he said the government and the administration would have to take responsibility if any undesirable situation arose there.
Meanwhile, Mamunul Haque said discussions were underway to select the district school in Khulna as the venue for the long march rally. He said the venue was relatively small and had narrow access routes, which could create difficulties in holding a large gathering. He said a final decision would be made after considering these factors.
Meanwhile, responding to journalists’ questions about a meeting with an Indian intelligence official, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the meeting had probably been with those who were making such political allegations surrounding the prime minister. He remarked that those individuals would be in a better position to explain the matter.
