The 11-party alliance has called on the government not to go against the public’s will simply on the strength of its parliamentary majority. Alliance leaders said that, throughout history, many have taken on authoritarian and fascist characters precisely by flexing majority power. They said the government must learn from history and turn back from that path. The call was made after a meeting of the 11-party alliance’s top leaders on Thursday afternoon at the opposition leader’s official residence on Minto Road in the capital.
Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Mia Golam Parwar shared these remarks. The meeting’s main agenda was preparations for the Dhaka-Rangpur long march on September 19, over a seven-point set of demands. Alongside this, the country’s political situation, implementation of the referendum verdict, and the constitutional amendment process were also discussed.
Golam Parwar said there is no precedent anywhere in the world of a referendum verdict being annulled. Yet, he said, a government that came to power in the name of democracy has used its parliamentary majority to reject a 70 percent “yes” vote, trampling the public’s aspirations into the dust. He said that having a majority does not justify going against the public’s will.
He alleged that the government had used its majority power to alter laws based on the Quran and Sunnah, interfering with heba (gift) law. He said the verdict given by 70 percent of the people is also being trampled underfoot. He further alleged that there is a conspiracy to change the long-standing local government election law to make MPO-listed teachers ineligible to contest elections.
Golam Parwar said: “We will call on the government to turn back from this.” He said the meeting of the 11-party alliance’s top leaders was held at 11am, chaired by opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman. Alongside reviewing progress on preparations for the long march, various government decisions and the political crisis were also discussed. Golam Parwar said the meeting discussed making the movement more dynamic and involving the public, keeping the seven-point demands at the forefront. He said the 11-party alliance has rejected the government’s approach of amending the constitution while bypassing the referendum, instead of forming a constitutional reform council, and has also opposed moves to begin unilateral activity by the special committee involved in that process.
September 19 long march
Golam Parwar said an inaugural public rally will be held at the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue from 7am to 8am on Saturday. The motorcade will then set off for Rangpur. Along the way, the first roadside rally will be held at Gazipur’s Bhogra Bypass, and the second at Tangail’s Jalfoi Bypass crossing. After crossing the Jamuna Bridge, the convoy is expected to reach Sirajganj’s Hatikumrul crossing between noon and 12:30pm, where Zuhr prayers will be offered. Roadside rallies will then follow at Matidali in Bogura, and in the evening at Palashbari in Gaibandha. The long march will conclude with a closing programme at Rangpur Zilla School ground. According to the published programme, there will be five roadside rallies — in Gazipur, Tangail, Sirajganj, Bogura and Gaibandha — followed by the closing rally in Rangpur.
Golam Parwar said those wishing to join the long march can add their own district’s vehicle convoy behind the main motorcade. There will be eight to nine vehicles from the cultural wing, along with volunteer, security, medical, ambulance, IT and media teams. Participants have been asked to bring their own food, water and necessary items in their vehicles.
Assurance of a peaceful programme
Golam Parwar sought the country’s cooperation in making the long march a success. He expressed regret over any inconvenience the programme might cause. At the same time, he sought the cooperation of the police administration, civil society, traffic police, intelligence agencies, and the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of every district along the route. He said the 11-party alliance’s programme would be free of violence and entirely peaceful, with no intention of unlawful unrest, disorder or vandalism of any kind. However, he called on anyone deliberately planning to obstruct this peaceful, democratic programme in order to destabilise the country to abandon that intention.
Golam Parwar said: “We don’t want any disorder, and we won’t allow any. So why would you needlessly create trouble and disturb a peaceful country?”
Also present at the press briefing were Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general and 11-party alliance coordinator Hamidur Rahman Azad, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis secretary general Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, and Labor Party chairman Mustafizur Rahman Iran, among others.