Long march to implement the people’s verdict, not to topple the government: Mia Golam Parwar

• 11-party alliance’s long march today
• Long march to begin with 1,500 vehicles
• First rally at Shapla Chattar between 7 and 8 am, followed by roadside rallies at Narayanganj’s Chittagong Road, Cumilla’s Paduar Bazar and Chauddagram, Feni’s Mohipal, and Chattogram’s Mirsharai, with the final rally at Laldighi Maidan, Chattogram

The Jamaat-led 11-party alliance’s first-phase long march from Dhaka to Chattogram, over a six-point demand, is today. The inaugural rally will begin at 7 am at Shapla Chattar, Motijheel, Dhaka. After the rally continues until 8 am, the vehicle convoy will set off along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway toward Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. The opposition alliance’s six-point demands include: implementation of the referendum verdict, trial of the July massacre, resolution of the power-oil-gas-fertilizer crisis, curbing the rising prices of daily essentials, improving law-and-order, and ending narrow partisanship. The 11-party alliance has already completed all preparations to make the long march successful. Jamaat, the NCP, and other parties have been campaigning from their respective positions to make the long march a success, holding meetings across the capital and distributing leaflets urging people to join.

A press conference was held yesterday at Jamaat-e-Islami’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, to announce the final preparations for the 11-party alliance’s long march program from Dhaka to Chattogram. There, Jamaat’s Secretary General and convener of the long march implementation committee, Mr. Mia Golam Parwar, said that if the ruling party, its affiliated organizations, or any part of the administration creates an adverse environment for the opposition’s long march, it will further erode public trust, and the government risks facing public anger — though he said he hopes the ruling party will not go down that path. He said the opposition is conducting a constitutional and constructive movement, both inside and outside parliament, demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, and that the long march too would be a peaceful and lawful program — the opposition is not conducting any movement to topple the government.

Mr. Mia Golam Parwar said the first rally will be held at Shapla Chattar between 7 and 8 am on Saturday, followed by rallies at Narayanganj’s Chittagong Road, Cumilla’s Paduar Bazar and Chauddagram, Feni’s Mohipal, and Chattogram’s Mirsharai, with the final rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. Barring traffic jams or other problems, the long march convoy is expected to reach Laldighi Maidan around 7 pm, though he noted the schedule for such programs could shift somewhat, and preparations have been made for that possibility. He said the long march was initially planned with around 1,000 vehicles, but as of Friday (September 4) morning, the number had risen to nearly 1,500. Separate arrangements have been made within the convoy for the vehicles of top leaders, a security team, a medical team, ambulances, and IT and media teams, with designated people responsible for different sections of the convoy.

To reduce inconvenience to the public along the route and keep roadside rallies brief, Mr. Golam Parwar said not all leaders of the 11 parties will speak at every rally. Local units will organize the roadside rallies, with local leaders and activists present; leaders and activists riding in the convoy will not get out for these rallies — only those scheduled to speak will step out. He said more vehicles may join the convoy along the way, and any newly added vehicles will join at the rear of the convoy.

The convener of the long march implementation committee said participants in the long march will be given delegate cards, and buses will carry stickers. Plans have also been made for how vehicles for security, ambulance service, the party’s cultural and IT wings, and the medical team will move.

Responding to a question from journalists at the press conference, Mr. Mia Golam Parwar said six months is not enough time to resolve every problem, but the “train” carrying the deadline for implementing the referendum verdict has already left the station. He said the constitution reform council was supposed to be sworn in within 30 days of parliament’s first session, and the July charter was to be implemented within 180 days — the government did not do this. He said the government itself should tell parliament how long implementation will take.

Noting that crime cannot be completely eradicated in the country, Jamaat’s Secretary General said that even so, atrocities, brutality, looting, and partisan favoritism could have been reduced compared to the previous government — but instead, the government is following the same path. Mr. Mia Golam Parwar said the bravado now being shown by “fascists,” and the provocations being carried out using various devices with the patronage of hegemonic powers, were not supposed to happen within six months.

Responding to another question from journalists at the press conference, National Citizen Party (NCP) chief coordinator Mr. Nasiruddin Patwary said they do not currently anticipate any sabotage or unrest surrounding the long march. The 11 parties are united, he said, and if everyone joins the long march together, wrongdoers will also be deterred — but if even minimal unrest or attacks occur, responsibility will fall on the ruling party. Mr. Patwary alleged that State Minister for Local Government Mr. Mir Shahe Alam has started a “family business,” claiming this business previously operated in Gopalganj and has now begun in Bogura. He also alleged that news of corruption involving Home Minister Mr. Salahuddin Ahmed’s son has been prevented from being published in newspapers.