Speaking at a roadside rally at Hatikumrul in Sirajganj, on the route of the 11-party alliance’s Dhaka-Rangpur long march over eight demands including implementation of the referendum verdict, Amir-e-Majlis Allama Mamunul Haque said no government can remain in power by ignoring the people’s mandate.
“Stop toying with the referendum verdict of 70 percent of Bangladesh’s people,” he said, calling for a constitution reform council to be formed and the July Charter implemented through reform.
Warning the government, the Amir-e-Majlis said that if it fails to ensure people’s rights and their right to vote, the 11 parties will, together with the public, move toward a one-point demand if necessary. No ruling group has held on to power in the past by ignoring the people’s mandate, he said, and none will be able to in future.
He said the government must solve people’s basic problems, including bringing commodity prices under control, resolving the fuel and fertiliser crisis, and improving the law and order situation. Rigging people’s voting rights simply to stay in power is not acceptable, he said.
On India, he said those convicted by Bangladesh’s courts and those facing warrants must be handed over to Bangladesh, adding that until the unresolved issues with Bangladesh are settled, the public does not want to see Bangladesh’s prime minister in Delhi.