Opposition alliance to hold rally today

The Jamaat-led 11-party alliance will hold a mass rally in the capital Tuesday afternoon, demanding justice for enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and murders that allegedly took place during the Awami League government’s tenure.

The rally is scheduled for 5:00 PM at Bijoy Nagar in Dhaka, with senior leaders from all 11 member parties expected to attend. The alliance has also announced district-level protest marches and rallies across the country on July 4.

The programmes were announced Monday at a press conference held at Jamaat-e-Islami’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka.

Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat and coordinator of the 11-party alliance, made the announcement following a liaison committee meeting of the alliance held at the same venue at 10:00 AM yesterday.

Speaking at the press conference, Azad said the culture of impunity remained entrenched and warned of what he described as attempts to revive fascism in the country.

“Justice for the July massacres has still not been delivered — the process has been deliberately slowed down,” he said, adding that the government bore the responsibility of preventing any comeback by the Awami League, whose activities have been banned.

“If the government fails to stop the rise of fascism, the 11 parties will stand with the people of this country to resist it,” Azad said.

He also alleged that alliance members faced violent attacks when they spoke out against injustices, claiming that activists affiliated with the ruling party had assaulted them at various locations.

Broader demands on the agenda
Beyond accountability for alleged killings and disappearances, the July 4 district-level programmes will also raise concerns over rising prices of daily essentials and deteriorating law and order, Azad said.

He called on citizens to unite against what he termed atrocities, government failures and the patronage of fascism.

The Tuesday Dhaka rally is expected to serve as a platform for the alliance to formally press its demands for accountability and accelerated judicial proceedings in cases stemming from the previous government’s era.