“Not a Movement to Oust the Government,” Porwar Says Ahead of Long March

Mia Golam Porwar insists the Dhaka-Chattogram long march is not an attempt to bring down Bangladesh’s government.

“We are not launching any movement to oust the government,” Porwar, secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami and convener of the 11-party alliance’s long-march committee, said at a press conference in Dhaka. He described the opposition’s role inside and outside Parliament as constitutional, constructive and responsible, and said the march would remain peaceful.

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We are not launching any movement to oust the government.

The alliance plans to begin its September 5 programme with a rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar between 7 and 8 a.m. Participants will then hold brief roadside rallies in Narayanganj, Cumilla, Feni and Chattogram before ending at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. Organizers say around 1,500 vehicles will join the journey, with shorter rallies intended to limit disruption to the public.

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We urge the government to retain public confidence by extending all administrative cooperation to ensure the success of the opposition’s largest peaceful political programme.

The protesters are demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, trials over the July mass killings, and solutions to shortages involving electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser. Jamaat Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman, along with other alliance leaders, are expected to participate.

Porwar urged the government not to obstruct the programme and called for administrative cooperation. NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said the alliance did not currently expect sabotage or disorder, but said the ruling party would bear responsibility if attacks or unrest occurred. The alliance has also announced marches toward Rangpur, Khulna and Sylhet in September and October, followed by a grand rally in Dhaka on November 14. Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee criticized the opposition, saying six months in office was not enough to complete all development work.

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Have 20,000 kilometres of canals been re-excavated after six months in office? Is there any scope to say that all the work has been completed? The opposition must understand this.