The 11-Party Alliance has launched a long march from Dhaka to Khulna, Jhenaidah and Kushtia, pressing for seven demands, including the implementation of the public referendum mandate, justice for the July massacre and measures to control rising prices of essential commodities.
The programme began at 8:20 am on Saturday (October 31) from the south gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram in the capital.
Before the march began, an inaugural rally was held, where Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman addressed the gathering as the chief guest.
The rally formally began with an inaugural speech by Dr HM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Qari Belal Hossain recited verses from the Holy Quran.
In his speech, Hamidur Rahman Azad said the long march was aimed at securing public demands. He called for the immediate formation of a Constitution Reform Commission, warning that reforms must be undertaken or the government would have to step down. He also expressed concern over the rising prices of essential commodities.
Special guests at the rally included LDP Chairman and former minister Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Allama Mamunul Haque, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party Ameer Maulana Abdul Qayyum Sobhan.
The Seven Demands
The alliance has put forward the following seven demands:
- Reform the Constitution through legal procedures in accordance with the referendum results.
- Improve the country’s deteriorating law and order situation.
- Control the prices of essential commodities.
- Resolve shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser.
- End political interference in the administration, educational institutions and other sectors.
- Stop corruption, extortion and illegal occupation.
- Quickly arrest and bring to justice those responsible for the killings during the July mass uprising.
Route and Scheduled Public Meetings
At a press conference held at Jamaat-e-Islami’s central office on Friday, Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar outlined the final preparations for the programme.
He said the convoy would depart at 8:00 am and travel through Shariatpur, Madaripur, Bhanga in Faridpur, Gopalganj and Fakirhat in Bagerhat before entering Khulna via the Rupsha Bridge. From there, it would proceed through Jashore and Jhenaidah before reaching Shaheed Abrar Fahad Stadium in Kushtia for the concluding rally.
Six public meetings are scheduled along the route:
- 9:00 am: Naodoba in Jazira, Shariatpur
- 11:00 am: Katakhali intersection in Fakirhat, Bagerhat
- 12:30 pm: Babri Chattar, Khulna city
- 2:00 pm: Swadhinata Chattar, Phultala Bus Stand
- 3:30 pm: Murali intersection, Jashore
- 5:00 pm: Jhenaidah Bus Terminal
The programme will conclude with a public rally at 8:30 pm at Shaheed Abrar Fahad Stadium in Kushtia.
Third Long March by the 11-Party Alliance
Mia Golam Porwar said the programme was organised to press for the implementation of the referendum mandate, justice for the July massacre, solutions to energy and fertiliser shortages, control of commodity prices, an end to corruption and extortion, improvements in law and order, and an end to political interference.
The long march marks the alliance’s third phase of demonstrations against what it describes as government failures and broken promises.
Covering approximately 410 kilometres from Dhaka through Khulna, Jashore and Jhenaidah to Kushtia, this is the alliance’s largest long march compared with its previous two programmes.
Porwar apologised for the temporary inconvenience that the procession might cause to commuters and businesses along the highways. He said organisers would try to conduct the programme using one side of the highway to minimise disruption to the public.
