Top leaders of the 11-party alliance met on Tuesday to review the country’s political situation and plan the Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march set for 31 October.
The meeting was held on Tuesday morning (27 October) at the official residence of the leader of the opposition. Afterwards, at 11:30am, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis amir Maulana Mamunul Haque briefed journalists.
Mamunul Haque said the long march had been called to demand implementation of the referendum verdict; trial for the July killings; an end to the electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser shortages; a halt to rising prices of essentials; an end to corruption, extortion and land grabbing; better law and order; and an end to narrow partisan appointments.
The alliance is also running programmes across the country to ease the problems of daily life and press the public’s legitimate demands, he said. Long marches have already been held in Chattogram and the north, and the 31 October march will be the third phase.
The march will also raise demands for an independent and effective judiciary, an end to corruption and extortion, and trials for all killings, including the July killings, the Shapla Chattar killings and the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, he said.
He said he hoped the march would succeed with the spontaneous participation of people from all walks of life, as the previous two had. It will begin at 7am on 31 October with an opening rally at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and, after programmes at several places along the way, end in Kushtia.
The alliance has asked the law enforcement agencies and the administration for cooperation so the march can pass off peacefully, he said.
“They have assured us that no obstruction or mischief will be created. But we want to warn that if anyone tries to disrupt the long march, we will resist it at any cost and make the march a success,” he said.
Mamunul Haque said the alliance had so far kept to moderate programmes on the question of the people’s rights. “We are playing a responsible role, inside and outside parliament, in a spirit of cooperation with the government. But the government’s conduct shows no sincerity in accepting the opposition’s cooperation,” he said. In that situation, tougher programmes would be announced if needed to secure the people’s rights, he said, and he urged the government to understand what people want and act accordingly.
Voicing concern over the coming local government elections, he said the alliance was worried about whether they would be neutral. He alleged that appointments at secretary level in the Election Commission had been made on partisan grounds and said this had raised questions about the commission’s neutrality. “We are also concerned about the Election Commission’s role in the Thakurgaon by-election,” he said.
The Election Commission must act neutrally, he said. If there is any departure on the question of people’s right to vote, the alliance will not stay silent and will, if needed, announce major programmes against the commission.
Sharply criticising the inspector general of police’s recent remarks on law and order, Mamunul Haque said statements about extrajudicial killings or crossfire were deeply worrying. “Such remarks are not expected from an officer holding the highest responsibility for law and order. People across the country are bewildered and stunned, and we are alarmed about the overall law and order situation,” he said.
On the prime minister’s recent state visit, he said people whose fitness to represent the state is in question had been included in the delegation. “Arrangements are being made that turn an important state visit into a pleasure trip. The government must act more responsibly on this,” he said.
On the coming fourth session of parliament, he said the alliance doubted whether the government would work with the opposition to resolve important national issues by consensus. Its leaders will meet again before the session to decide their next steps, he said.
Asked whether any untoward situation was feared when the march convoy passes through Gopalganj, he said: “We do not expect any such situation. We believe the programme can go ahead normally if the law enforcement agencies stay alert.”
He said a large number of Islamist and patriotic people in Gopalganj would join the march and were ready to face any terrorist act or mischief. “At the same time, I call on the Gopalganj administration to carry out its duties properly. If any unexpected situation arises, the government and the administration will have to bear responsibility,” he said.
Asked where the march’s programmes would be held, he said several venues had been discussed for their facilities and access routes. A final decision will take into account the limited space and entry points around the district school area in particular, and will be announced soon, he said.
Asked about allegations of a meeting with an Indian intelligence official, he said those making the allegation could give the details. The 11-party alliance is not part of any conspiracy or plot, he said; it is working together for state reform, to honour the sacrifice of the martyrs, to resist hegemony and to shape Bangladesh’s future state structure.
“We are hopeful that the 11-party alliance will grow wider in the struggle to establish the people’s rights and set the country’s future course,” he said.
At the briefing, Mamunul Haque sought the cooperation of patriotic citizens, the media and everyone concerned for the 31 October Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march.
The meeting was chaired by Jamaat-e-Islami amir and leader of the opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman. Those present included NCP convener Nahid Islam; LDP president and freedom fighter Colonel (retd) Dr Oli Ahmed; Mamunul Haque; Jamaat secretary general and former MP Mia Golam Parwar and assistant secretary general and former MP Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad; NCP senior joint convener Nasiruddin Patwari; Nezam-e-Islam Party acting amir Maulana Abdul Kaiyum Subhani; Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan amir Allama Abu Zafar; Bangladesh Labour Party chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran; Jagpa vice-president and spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan; Bangladesh Development Party chairman Advocate AKM Anwarul Islam Chan; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis secretary general Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad; LDP acting secretary general Billal Hossain Miazi; Nezam-e-Islam Party senior nayeb-e-amir Abdul Majed Athari; AB Party joint secretary general Abdullah Al Mamun Rana; Jagpa secretary general Professor Iqbal Hossain; BDP secretary Nizamul Haque Naim; and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan secretary general Mufti Fakhrul Islam.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report