The Dhaka-Chattogram long march announced by the 11-party alliance for September 5 will be peaceful and orderly, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said.
He made the remarks at a briefing on preparations for the long march at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, this afternoon.
“We hope the police administration, all government intelligence agencies and those responsible for maintaining law and order, including the traffic authorities, will stand by the people and help make our road march programme successful,” he added.
Seeking cooperation from political parties outside the alliance, Porwar said efforts to ease public suffering, address people’s demands and implement the referendum verdict were closely tied to public aspirations.
“So, we also expect cooperation from other political parties,” he said.
Porwar said the long march would begin from Shapla Chattar in Dhaka at 7:00am on September 5 and end at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.
Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, LDP President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, along with top leaders of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, will join the programme.
The Jamaat secretary general said at least 1,000 vehicles would take part in the long march, with more joining the convoy along the way.
Jamaat leaders and activists in nine districts and metropolitan areas between Dhaka and Chattogram are making preparations, he said, adding that there are plans to hold roadside rallies by senior leaders at six to seven locations along the route.
Porwar said the long march has six key demands: implementing the people’s verdict in the referendum; bringing those responsible for the July massacre to trial; resolving the electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser crises; curbing rising prices of essential commodities; improving the deteriorating law and order situation; and ending partisan influence at all levels of the administration.
On preparations and coordination with the police, Porwar said leaders of the 11 parties met the IGP and senior police officials at Police Headquarters yesterday.
“They were informed about the route and programme of the long march, and the police assured us of their cooperation,” he said.
Apologising in advance for any inconvenience caused to the public, he said they would try to keep one lane of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway open.
“However, due to the convoy of thousands of vehicles, there may be some traffic congestion or inconvenience at some points,” he said.
“I apologise in advance on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami to everyone whose business or movement may face some difficulty or inconvenience for the sake of making this long march successful,” Porwar said.
Asked whether there was any risk of sabotage or attacks surrounding the programme, Porwar said they had so far received no information or reports suggesting such a threat.
He said the long march would be one of the biggest political programmes organised by the 11-party alliance as an opposition bloc since the 13th parliamentary election.
“We hope the administration, the ruling party and other political parties will cooperate with the long march out of respect for democracy and tolerance of differing opinions,” Porwar said.
