No scope for provocation during Dhaka-Ctg long march: Golam Porwar

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar today (25 August) said the opposition Jamaat-led 11-party alliance will hold a Dhaka-Chattogram long march on 5 September, pledging to keep the programme peaceful and avoid any scope for provocation.

"This is a peaceful and systematic political programme. The country's people will make this long march programme a success, InshaAllah, without giving any scope for provocation," he said at a press briefing at the Jamaat central office in the city.

The 11-party alliance is going to organise the long march with a six-point demand including implementation of the public verdict reflected in the referendum, trial of the July mass killings, resolution of the energy and fertiliser crises, control of prices of essential commodities, improvement of the law-and-order situation, and an end to politicisation at all levels of the administration, he said.

Jamaat Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman along with other top leaders of the 11-party alliance will lead the long march, said Golam Pawar.

"We are moving ahead with extensive preparations. We are witnessing a strong response, enthusiasm and excitement among the people (over the programme)," said the Jamaat secretary general.

He said several implementation committees and subcommittees have already been formed for the programme, with responsibilities divided among teams handling reception, medical services, transport, publicity and publications, information technology, volunteers, cultural activities and administrative liaison.

"We are holding meetings repeatedly and moving ahead with extensive preparations. We are witnessing a strong response, enthusiasm and excitement among the people (over the programme)," he said.

Porwar said the long march will begin from Shapla Chattar in Dhaka at 7am on 5 September and end at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.

Roadside rallies would be held at various important points along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway during the journey, he added.

Porwar said they expect that more than 1,000 vehicles will participate in the long march, while leaders and activists of the alliance and common people from different districts, upazilas and metropolitan areas along the Dhaka-Chattogram route will join the programme.

He said the 11-party alliance held a meeting with the police administration yesterday evening to ensure that the long march remained peaceful and disciplined.

"We informed the police administration about the relevant route, roadside rallies and different spots of the programme," he added.

The Jamaat general secretary said precautionary measures are being taken to minimise disruption to the movement of common people.

"We have planned to keep the long-march convoy on one part of the highway so that regular vehicles can continue to use the other part.

"However, such a large programme may cause temporary inconvenience at some places. So, we apologise to the country's people in advance," he added.

Porwar said they are seeking cooperation of the administration, political parties, the media and people from all walks of life to make the programme successful.

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Dhaka city South unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and Dhaka city North unit Ameer Md Selim Uddin, among others, were present at the briefing.