Govt betrays people, public will not forgive them: Jamaat ameer at Narayanganj rally

Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the Jamaat-e-Islami ameer and opposition leader, has accused the BNP government of betraying the people, saying the demands and expectations earned through bloodshed on the streets during the July Uprising have yet to be fully fulfilled.

Addressing a rally in Narayanganj today (5 September) as part of the Jamaat-led opposition alliance's Dhaka–Chattogram long march to press for the referendum verdict and other demands, he said the coalition will continue its street movement until people's legitimate rights, including gas, electricity and good governance, are ensured.

The rally was held at the Chittagong Road truck stand ground in the morning.

"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," Shafiqur said.

He said the people's bloodshed on the streets against the previous autocratic regime has yet to result in the full realisation of their expectations and demands.

The Jamaat ameer said the alliance stands beside the people and will build a Bangladesh free from fascism.

"You will return home with the final smile of victory," he said.

Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Mamunul Haque, National Citizen Party Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, and NCP Joint Member Secretary and Narayanganj-4 MP Abdullah Al Amin also addressed the rally.

After the brief rally at Shimrail, the long march left for Cumilla.

Meanwhile, the organisers' volunteer teams had been working since morning to ease traffic congestion and maintain discipline in connection with the long march.

Although the service lane towards Chattogram was closed during the rally, the main lane remained open.

As a result, no significant traffic congestion was reported on the Narayanganj stretch of the highway.