A total of 778 vehicles taking part in the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance’s long march towards Khulna and Kushtia crossed the Padma Bridge together.
The convoy crossed the bridge at around 10am. About Tk 776,000 was collected in bridge tolls from the vehicles.
The long march set off at around 8:30am on Saturday (31 October) from the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
According to the Padma Bridge toll plaza, the convoy included microbuses, cars, jeeps and other kinds of vehicles. In all, 778 vehicles crossed the bridge.
The 11-party alliance had said earlier that the long march would leave Dhaka with a convoy of 600 to 700 vehicles, with more joining from districts along the way. By the time it reaches Kushtia, the number of vehicles would pass 1,500, it said. Leaders, activists and supporters from 19 districts are expected to take part.
The programme began at 7am today with an opening rally at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital. The convoy then set off at around 8:30am. It is due to travel from Dhaka through Khulna, Jashore and Jhenaidah and end in Kushtia.
Leaders of the 11-party alliance said this was their third long march. The first went from Dhaka to Chattogram on 5 September, and the second from Dhaka towards Rangpur on 19 September. Today’s programme is longer than the previous two: the convoy is due to cover about 410 kilometres from Dhaka through Khulna, Jashore and Jhenaidah to Kushtia.
Under the alliance’s announced programme, a grand rally is due to be held in Dhaka on 14 November. Leaders of the 11-party alliance said long marches on the Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Barishal routes were also possible.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report