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DHAKA: Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI) Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has warned that the country is heading towards another “inevitable revolution” if the verdict of the referendum is not implemented.
He said the BNP must reverse its “wrong decision” and announce the implementation of the referendum verdict before the next parliamentary session begins on November 9. Otherwise, he said, the movement to realise public demands would continue.
Shafiqur made the remarks while addressing the inaugural rally of the 11-party alliance-led long march at the south gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram in Dhaka on Saturday (October 31).
“We have not taken to the streets with any party or personal demands. Our demands are the people’s demands. We have taken to the streets to end people’s suffering and establish their rights. By the grace of Almighty Allah, the previous long march was successfully completed with the support and love of the people,” he said.
The Jamaat chief said the implementation of the referendum verdict was the central issue among the alliance’s seven-point demands. He claimed that the other six demands had emerged because the referendum verdict had not been implemented.
He also argued that had the verdict been implemented, extortionists, land grabbers, corrupt individuals and drug kingpins would not have been able to gain prominence.
Criticising the BNP, Shafiqur said the party had disappointed the nation and committed a historic betrayal by failing to keep its promises. He accused the party of making false statements in parliament and ridiculing the aspirations and verdict of the people.
He urged the BNP to return to what he described as the right path and implement the referendum verdict, warning that the party would otherwise have to pay a heavy price. He also accused the BNP of failing to learn lessons from the country’s past authoritarian rule and its own mistakes.
Referring to the prime minister’s recent foreign visit, Shafiqur said the premier had returned home after a four-day trip and demanded that the government clarify the purpose of the visit and its achievements.
He particularly questioned whether there was any lack of transparency surrounding the Matarbari deep-sea port project.
“Bangladesh cannot be leased out to anyone in the name of connectivity,” he said, adding that those who had accepted subservience in the past were now facing the consequences.
He called on the government to accept the demands immediately and return to what he termed a healthy political course.
The Jamaat chief reiterated that the BNP should announce its decision to implement the referendum verdict before the November 9 parliamentary session.
“If this announcement is made, the opposition will not need to launch any further programmes for the time being,” he said.
Referring to the 70 per cent voter turnout in favour of the referendum, Shafiqur said the people’s demand and verdict would not be allowed to be disregarded. He vowed to continue the movement until the demands were met.
Calling on the younger generation to prepare for greater sacrifices, he said the aspirations of young people were being trampled upon. He credited their street protests with bringing temporary liberation to the nation and urged them to fight again to make that freedom lasting.
“Another inevitable revolution is knocking at our door,” he said, calling on freedom-loving people to prepare for it.
The rally was conducted by Dhaka South Jamaat Secretary and MP Shafiqul Islam Masud.
Among those who addressed the gathering were LDP Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Nezame Islam Party President Maulana Abdul Kayum Sobahani, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju, Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, JAGPA spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan, Bangladesh Development Party Chairman Anwarul Islam Chan, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and 11-party alliance coordinator Hamidur Rahman Azad, Dhaka South Jamaat Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Dhaka North Jamaat Ameer Selim Uddin and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir President Nurul Islam Saddam.
Following the inaugural rally, leaders of the 11-party alliance began their long march towards Kushtia in a convoy of several hundred vehicles. However, no leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) were seen on the stage.
No NCP leader, despite the party being one of the major components of the 11-party alliance, attended the inaugural rally. Asked about their absence, a senior alliance leader told Sarabangla, “I also did not see any NCP leader on the stage. I cannot say at this moment whether they will join the long march or not.”
