'We are marching because you fail to provide gas and electricity'

"Our slogan right now is 'Provide gas, provide electricity.' You are not providing them, which is why we have staged this long march," said Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

He made these remarks on Saturday afternoon at a street rally organized by the 11-Party Alliance in Matidali of Bogura, as part of the Dhaka-Rangpur long march.

Addressing the government at the rally, the Jamaat Ameer said, "If you had not deceived the people, we would not have had to take to the streets for a long march. You promised jobs to 10 million people, but instead, you turned 10 million into extortionists and increased the rate of corruption."

Citing that they have no new slogans, Dr. Shafiqur added, "You promised to provide gas and electricity. Back when the honorable President was leading the BNP on the ground, his slogan was 'Provide gas, provide electricity.' Today, our slogan remains 'Provide gas, provide electricity.' We have no new slogan. We are on this long march simply because you are failing to deliver."

Referring to employment for the nation's youth, he said, "You have snatched away the right to employment from our children. Our children protested for their job rights and 1,400 of them laid down their lives. We are ready to give our lives once more, but we will not tolerate this discrimination."

During the rally in Bogura, the Jamaat Ameer further added, "My farmer brothers do not get fertilizer. Fertilizer worth Tk1,400 has to be bought for Tk 2,200. You cannot provide electricity, yet you hand us double and triple bills."

Addressing the same event, Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah said, "This fight of ours is a fight for our liberation. We did not just want a change of government; we wanted a transformation of Bangladesh."

He continued, "We must take to the streets again for state reform. We demanded reforms from the government. Against this corruption, against this extortion, against this Salauddin, and against this Tarique Rahman, we must return to the streets once more."

Earlier on Saturday morning, the 11-Party Alliance's Dhaka-Rangpur long march flagged off from Manik Mia Avenue in the capital heading toward Rangpur. Following several street rallies along the route, the convoy reached the Matidali area of Bogura around 3:00 PM.

The street rally was also attended by key leaders of the 11-Party Alliance, including Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP); Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Opposition Chief Whip; Allama Mamunul Haque, Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; and Professor Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.