Opposition’s Dhaka-Ctg long march today

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance is set to hold a long march today, stepping up pressure on the government over a range of demands, including implementation of the referendum verdict.

The march from Dhaka to Chattogram comes around six and a half months after the BNP government took oath on February 17. The alliance has continued its street agitation, including divisional rallies and sit-ins, almost every month since April.

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Jamaat Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman, along with top leaders of the 11 parties, are expected to join the programme.

The long march is part of the alliance’s largest event, announced by Shafiqur at a sit-in at Dhaka’s Muktangan on August 6. The programme also includes three more divisional long marches from Dhaka to Rangpur, Khulna, and Sylhet in September and October, followed by a grand rally in Dhaka on November 14.

The combine’s demands have largely centred on three issues: implementing the referendum verdict, resolving the fuel, power, and commodity-price crises, and bringing to justice those responsible for various crimes committed during the Awami League regime.

At a press conference at Jamaat’s central office in Maghbazar yesterday, Mia Golam Porwar, secretary general of Jamaat and convener of the long march implementation committee, urged the government not to obstruct today’s event.

He warned that if the ruling party, its affiliated organisations or any part of the administration created obstacles to opposition programmes, the government would lose public trust and risk facing public anger.

The opposition is playing a “constitutional, constructive, and responsible role” both inside and outside parliament, Porwar said, adding that the long march would also be peaceful and lawful.

“We are not waging a movement to topple the government.”

Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee criticised the opposition’s event, saying that it was not possible to complete all development work within six months.

“Six months have passed since we took responsibility. Have 20,000 kilometres of canals been re-excavated within this period? Is there any scope to say that all the work has been completed? The opposition should understand this,” he said after inaugurating a canal-cleaning programme at Rahmatkhali Canal in Lakshmipur municipality yesterday.

According to Porwar, the long march will begin with an inaugural rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar between 7:00am and 8:00am today. Rallies will then be held at Chittagong Road in Narayanganj, Paduar Bazar, and Chauddagram in Cumilla, Mahipal in Feni, and Mirsharai in Chattogram. The final rally will take place at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.

According to the alliance, around 1,500 vehicles would join the march.