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Dhaka: The 11-party alliance will stage a long march from Dhaka to Chattogram on September 5, pressing six demands, including implementation of the public mandate in the referendum, trial of the July mass killings, resolution of fuel and fertiliser shortages, control of prices of essential commodities, improvement of law and order, and an end to politicisation at all levels of the administration.
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar announced the programme at a press briefing held at the party’s central office on Tuesday.
He said Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman MP, along with other top leaders of the 11-party alliance, would lead the long march.
Mia Golam Parwar said various implementation committees and subcommittees had already been formed to make the programme a success. Responsibilities had been distributed among different departments, including reception, medical services, transport, publicity and publications, information technology, volunteers, culture and administrative communications. He added that meetings were being held regularly to coordinate the programme.
He said the long march would begin at 7am on September 5 from Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar and end at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. Roadside rallies would be held at several important locations along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
Mia Golam Parwar said more than 1,000 vehicles could take part in the long march. Leaders and activists from different districts, upazilas and metropolitan areas along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, as well as members of the general public, are expected to participate.
He said leaders of the 11-party alliance held a meeting with the police administration on the evening of August 24 to ensure that the long march remained peaceful and orderly. The police were informed about the designated route, roadside rallies and other locations where programmes would be held.
Saying that precautionary measures were being taken to minimise disruption to public movement, he said, “The procession will use one side of the highway so that regular vehicles can continue to travel on the other side.” However, he apologised to the public in advance, noting that the large-scale programme could cause temporary inconvenience in some places.
Mia Golam Parwar said the long march was a peaceful and lawful political programme. “The people of the country will make this long march a success, InshaAllah, without giving any opportunity for provocation,” he said.
He also sought cooperation from the administration, political parties, the media and people from all walks of life to make the programme successful.
Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and former MP Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka South City Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul MP, Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka North City Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin, and Dhaka North City Publicity and Media Secretary Ataur Rahman Sarkar, among other party leaders, were present at the press briefing.