Shafiqur vows movement until people’s rights secured as Jamaat-led alliance completes Dhaka-Ctg march

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman today (5 September) said the 11-party opposition alliance's movement would continue until the rights of the country's 18 crore people were ensured.

"Our demands are clear. People are suffering from gas, electricity and water shortages but are still required to pay their bills," he said at the opening rally of the alliance's Dhaka-Chattogram long march at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka.

"We have embarked on a struggle to establish the rights of the people. We will return home only after establishing the rights of the people, Insha'Allah," he added.

The alliance's six-point demands include implementation of the 12 February referendum verdict and justice for those killed during the July Uprising. It also seeks an end to shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser, along with measures to contain rising prices.

The alliance is also demanding an end to extortion and corruption, improved law and order, and an end to what it calls the "narrow partisanisation" of state institutions.

At a rally in Narayanganj, Shafiqur accused the government of failing to fulfil the expectations generated by the July Uprising.

"We have taken to the streets to implement the spirit of the July Uprising and to resolve the gas, electricity and energy crises. This government is betraying the people. The public will not forgive them," he said.

He said the alliance would stand beside the people and build a Bangladesh free from fascism.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam said the long march belonged to the people at large and warned that attempts to obstruct it could turn the alliance's six-point demands into a single-point demand.

"If the government obstructs the long march, we will overcome all obstacles and reach Chattogram," he said.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain criticised the government for failing to address basic problems, saying gas and electricity shortages and rising prices had returned despite repeated promises of improvement.

"If you think you are failing, if you don't have the capacity, there is no shortage of capable people in Bangladesh. There are many experienced people and experts in the 11-party alliance. Let them run the country," he said at the concluding rally in Chattogram.

Asif accused the government of prioritising development schemes over immediate public needs. "But there is no electricity in my home. What will I do with jobs if there is no electricity?" he said.

Failure to implement reforms and ensure accountability to the people could trigger a fresh "one-point" movement, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary warned.

"We have handed you the responsibility of implementing reforms in Bangladesh. If you fail to fulfil that responsibility, the people will decide what comes next," he said at the concluding programme at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.

Patwary also called for trials over deaths during pro-democracy movements under the Awami League government and those killed during the July Uprising.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque accused the government of deceiving the nation, while Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar urged it to acknowledge its mistakes and initiate constitutional reforms in line with the referendum verdict.

The march began around 7am and travelled through Narayanganj, Cumilla, Feni and Mirsharai before ending at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. Alliance volunteers helped manage traffic and maintain discipline. Despite a temporary closure of the Chattogram-bound service lane in Narayanganj, the main lane remained open and no major congestion was reported.