National Parliament’s opposition leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, MP, said, “Do you get electricity, gas and water 24 hours a day? Do farmers get fertilizer on time? Can businesspeople operate free of extortion? Is there corruption in Cumilla — yes or no? We have taken to the streets precisely because we want these problems solved.”
He made the remarks as chief guest at a roadside rally held Saturday afternoon in the Poduar Bazar Bishwa Road area of Cumilla.
The rally was organized as part of the 11-party alliance’s Dhaka-Chattogram long march, held over a six-point demand that includes implementing the referendum’s popular verdict, trials for the July massacre, resolving the electricity, gas and fertilizer crisis, curbing rising prices of daily essentials, improving law and order, and ending partisan politicization.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the long march would go to every divisional city in the country. The movement to secure the six-point demand has begun. If the government does not accept these demands, they would return home only after successfully carrying out a movement to topple the government.
Addressing the people of Cumilla, the Jamaat Amir said, “You want Cumilla division. When Sylhet became a division in 1994, the demand to make Cumilla a division was raised at the same time. But in 1994, Cumilla did not become a division — Sylhet did. So what was the fault of the people of Cumilla?”
He said, “We have told the government clearly: stop stalling on Cumilla division. Create Cumilla division and ensure its implementation. The people of the neighboring district of Noakhali are also demanding a division, and they too are entitled to one. Give them a division as well. But since Cumilla has been demanding a division since 1994, implement Cumilla division first.”
Shafiqur Rahman said, “Is it because Khondaker Moshtaq’s home is in Cumilla that Hasina showed hostility toward Cumilla? Don’t make an issue out of Cumilla’s name. Making an issue over any district’s name amounts to insulting every citizen of that district and division. The current government has said it will grant the division. So why isn’t it being given? Give Cumilla its division.”
On opening an airport in Cumilla, he said the matter of establishing an airport here has come up. Cumilla also has an EPZ. Steps could be taken to open the airport after proper assessment. But Cumilla division should be implemented first. He said people currently have to travel far to Chattogram for administrative work, and once a division is established, people of Cumilla will receive the necessary administrative services right here.
Shafiqur Rahman also said, “Do you want the liberation of the people of Bangladesh? Is the government keeping the promises it made to the people before the election? It has not. The home minister, without maintaining law and order in the country or properly discharging the duties of his own ministry, sits holding responsibility for many ministries at once.”
Addressing the home minister, he said, “If you want to remain in charge of your own ministry, then give up all other responsibilities and first fix the situation in your own ministry. Protect our youth, protect the country from ruin.”
Presided over by Cumilla Metropolitan Jamaat Amir Kazi Deen, speakers at the rally included National Parliament’s opposition chief whip and NCP convener Nahid Islam; Liberal Democratic Party president Dr. Col. (retd.) Oli Ahmed; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Amir Mamunul Haque; National Parliament’s deputy opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Amir Dr. Abdullah Muhammad Taher; Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar; AB Party chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju; National Citizen Party chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary; Jamaat-e-Islami central assistant secretary general Maulana A.T.M. Masum; and Liberal Democratic Party acting secretary general Billal Hossain Miazi.