11-party alliance expands demands to 7, announces Long March to Rangpur
Leaders of the 11-party alliance at a preparatory meeting of the alliance's liaison committee on Sunday at the official residence of Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman. Photo: Agamir Somoy
The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, which previously held a Long March from Dhaka to Chattogram pressing a six-point demand, has now decided to march toward Rangpur. The opposition coalition has expanded its agenda to a seven-point demand for this upcoming program.
The decision to conduct the Dhaka-Rangpur Long March on September 19 was made on Sunday during a liaison committee preparation meeting at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition, Shafiqur Rahman, on Minto Road in Dhaka.
The alliance coordinator and Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, Hamidur Rahman Azad, told reporters that the Long March will flag off from Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on the morning of September 19. The program will conclude with a closing rally at the Rangpur Zilla School grounds.
Along the route, street rallies will be held at five locations:
Bhogra in Gazipur, Nagar Jalfai in Tangail, Sirajganj Chaurasta,
Charmatha in Bogura, Palashbari in Gaibandha.
On September 5, the 11-party alliance conducted its Long March from Dhaka to Chattogram to press for six demands, including the implementation of the referendum outcome and justice for the July genocide.
Regarding the addition of the new demand, Hamidur Rahman said that an explicit call to end corruption, extortion, and illegal land-grabbing has been included, bringing the total to seven points.
Leaders of the ruling BNP have been critical of the opposition's vehicle-borne long marches.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also criticized the movement in Parliament, saying that long marches will not solve the gas and electricity crisis. He urged the opposition to cooperate with the government to address these challenges.
In response, Jamaat leader Hamidur Rahman alleged that the government is failing to properly consider the opposition's constructive proposals regarding the energy and gas crisis, fertilizer shortages, and deteriorating law and order.
Meanwhile, a preparatory meeting organized by Jamaat’s Dhaka Metropolitan North unit was held at its Baridhara office to ensure the success of the program, where division-wise plans and responsibilities were assigned.
Presiding over the meeting, Dhaka Metropolitan North Jamaat Amir Mohammad Selim Uddin said that accepting the 7-point demand quickly would be beneficial for the government. Otherwise, he warned, the public would be mobilized to compel the government to fulfill their demands.
