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KHULNA: Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has said there is no alternative to national unity to establish the rule of law, freedom of expression and a just society in Bangladesh.
“The common people of the country are being deprived of their basic rights. There is no alternative to national unity to establish the rule of law, freedom of expression and a just society,” he said.
Parwar was speaking as the chief guest at a preparatory meeting held at the Al Faruk Society auditorium in Sonadanga, Khulna, on Thursday to coordinate the 11-party alliance’s Dhaka-Khulna-Jashore-Kushtia long march scheduled for October 31.
He described the long march as a political programme in support of what he called oppressed people and against “hegemonic forces”, and urged people in the Khulna region to join the programme.
Calling on women, students, members of the public and workers to participate in the long march, Parwar said their movement would continue to press for people’s rights, protection of the country’s independence and sovereignty, and the establishment of what he termed an equitable and humane Bangladesh.
He urged alliance leaders and activists to make the October 31 programme “the largest and most successful” long march, saying large gatherings were expected along the route in the Khulna region.
According to the plan, the long march will begin from the southern gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka following an opening rally at 7am. It will travel through several districts before reaching Khulna, Jashore and Jhenaidah and conclude with a rally in Kushtia.
The programme was originally scheduled for October 10 but was postponed to October 31 in view of the Durga Puja celebrations. The alliance has said the nearly 400-kilometre programme will include roadside rallies at several locations along the route.
Parwar said the Katakhali area of Bagerhat, Shibbari intersection in Khulna and the Independence Square at Phultala would see large gatherings during the programme.
He said the long march was aimed at protesting what the alliance describes as oppression, discrimination and deprivation of people’s rights.
“Every citizen’s right to freedom of expression, food, clothing, housing and a secure future is a demand of the time,” he said, urging people from across political affiliations to participate in the programme.
The meeting said the alliance would press seven demands through the long march. These include implementation of the public verdict in the referendum, trial of those responsible for the July mass killings, resolving shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser, controlling the rising prices of essential commodities, improving the law-and-order situation, preventing corruption, extortion and land grabbing, and ending narrow partisan influence throughout the administration.
The alliance has sought cooperation from the administration and the public to ensure that the programme remains peaceful and orderly. Parwar and other alliance leaders have also called on participants to exercise restraint and avoid provocation.
Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, along with other senior leaders of the 11-party alliance, are expected to lead the long march.
The preparatory meeting also discussed organisational arrangements, public outreach, distribution of leaflets, communication with the administration and coordination with local leaders of the alliance’s constituent parties.
Participants were urged to play an active role in ensuring the successful implementation of the programme and to maintain communication with the authorities and local communities.
The meeting was chaired by Jamaat Central Executive Council Member and Khulna region director Principal Md Izzat Ullah, MP.
Jamaat Central Working Committee members Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, MP, Maulana Md Mashiur Rahman Khan, MP, and Master Shafiqul Alam; Khulna metropolitan unit Ameer Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman; Naib-e-Ameer Professor Nazibur Rahman; Bagerhat district Naib