Opposition’s Dhaka-Ctg long march today

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance is preparing to take its campaign against the government from Dhaka to Chattogram, with about 1,500 vehicles expected to join the long march.

The march forms part of the opposition alliance’s largest programme, announced by Jamaat Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman at a Dhaka sit-in on August 6. The programme includes further long marches from Dhaka to Rangpur, Khulna and Sylhet in September and October, followed by a grand rally in Dhaka on November 14.

The alliance’s demands focus on implementing the referendum verdict, resolving fuel, power and commodity-price crises, and bringing to justice those responsible for crimes committed during the Awami League regime. The march comes about six and a half months after the BNP government took office on February 17. The alliance has held divisional rallies and sit-ins almost monthly since April.

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We are not waging a movement to topple the government.

Jamaat leaders said the opposition would play a “constitutional, constructive, and responsible role” inside and outside parliament. At a press conference, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar urged the government not to obstruct the event and warned that interference by the ruling party, affiliated organisations or the administration could cost the government public trust.

“We are not waging a movement to topple the government,” Porwar said, describing the march as peaceful and lawful. Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee criticised the event, saying the government could not complete all development work within six months. He pointed to a canal-cleaning programme in Lakshmipur and asked whether 20,000 kilometres of canals could already have been re-excavated.

The march is due to begin with a rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Participants will then gather at locations in Narayanganj, Cumilla, Feni and Chattogram before the final rally at Laldighi Maidan.

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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.