Leaders vow to continue movement over referendum verdict, July killings trial and public grievances
The Dhaka-Chattogram long march organised by an 11-party political alliance concluded in Chattogram on Saturday night with leaders reiterating their demands for implementation of the referendum verdict, trial of the July killings and an end to corruption, extortion and political partisanship.
The long march, which began from Shapla Chattar in the capital at around 8:15am, reached the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram at around 8pm, where a concluding rally was held.
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman addressed the rally as the chief guest. He said the six-point demands raised by the alliance were not demands of the participating political parties alone but those of the people of Bangladesh.
“Not a single one of the six demands belongs to the 11 parties; these are the demands of 180 million people,” he said.
Referring to the February 12 national election and referendum on constitutional reforms, Shafiqur Rahman claimed that the people had voted in favour of constitutional reform through the referendum, but the verdict had not been implemented.
He alleged that the government was disregarding the verdict of nearly 70 percent of voters and warned that the alliance would not stop its movement until the referendum result was implemented.
“Bangladesh will never again give birth to fascism, and we will get justice for the July killings,” he said.
The Jamaat chief also criticised the country’s electricity and gas situation, saying people were being forced to pay utility bills despite shortages. He further alleged that violence, crime, extortion and corruption had increased in society.
He said the movement was not merely an initiative to be resumed after Eid but a campaign to realise people’s demands.
Shafiqur Rahman also accused the BNP of failing to fulfil pledges it had made to the people before the election. If the government failed to ensure justice for the July killings, the 11-party alliance would form a government with the people’s mandate and ensure the trial, he said.
National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Nahid Islam said the government had no clear plan to lead the country. He claimed that the government would not be able to run the country without support from the opposition.
He accused the government of betraying the people by failing to implement the referendum verdict and said the country had yet to become free from political domination and corruption.
Nahid said the opposition would cooperate with the government if it implemented the July Charter. “If you engage in corruption, we will not extend even an inch of cooperation,” he said.
He further alleged that the state and politics had become intertwined and warned that the alliance would not wait 16 years to respond to what he described as authoritarian behaviour.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis leader Mamunul Haque said the long march was not aimed at serving any particular party or individual.
“The objective of our long march is to realise the dream of the students and people who took to the streets in 2024 to build a Bangladesh free from authoritarianism,” he said.
Mamunul Haque alleged that the BNP had betrayed the people after coming to power. He said the movement had now entered its second phase.
Jamaat leader Golam Porwar warned that the government would face resistance if it deceived the people or took a position against their interests.
“If the government moves towards an authoritarian and fascist path, the movement to force it back will begin from Chattogram,” he said.
He added that the alliance would continue its struggle until a new state based on the aspirations of the July Revolution was established.
Presiding over the concluding rally, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikram, called upon people to remain united to establish their rights.
He said many governments had ruled the country in the past, but it was unusual that within only six months of a government taking office, people were already saying that it might not survive.
Long march begins in Dhaka
Earlier in the morning, the opening rally of the long march began at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka at around 7am.
The programme began with recitation from the Holy Quran. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and coordinator of the 11-party alliance Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad delivered the opening address.
The convoy left Dhaka for Chattogram at around 8:15am.
Several rallies were held at predetermined points along the route. These included Kachpur in Narayanganj, Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad in Cumilla, Mohipal in Feni and Mirsarai before the convoy reached Chattogram.
Organisers said additional impromptu gatherings were also held at several points due to the presence of large crowds. Thousands of people reportedly gathered along the route, while people standing on both sides of the roads welcomed the long march.
