1,000 vehicles expected in Dhaka- Ctg long march

At least 1,000 vehicles are expected to join a Dhaka-Chattogram long march organised by the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance on September 5, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a briefing at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, Porwar said the long march would be conducted peacefully and in an orderly manner.

The programme will begin from Shapla Chattar in Dhaka at 7:00am and end at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram, he said.

Porwar said more vehicles could join the convoy along the route. Jamaat leaders and activists in nine districts and metropolitan areas between Dhaka and Chattogram are making preparations, while roadside rallies are planned at six to seven locations.

Among those expected to join the programme are Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman, LDP President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque.

Six-point demands
Porwar said the long march has six key demands:
Implement the people’s verdict in the referendum.
Bring those responsible for the July massacre to trial.
Resolve the electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser crises.
Curb rising prices of essential commodities.
Improve the deteriorating law and order situation.
End partisan influence at all levels of the administration.
Police coordination
Porwar said leaders of the 11-party alliance met the Inspector General of Police and senior police officials at Police Headquarters on Monday.

“They were informed about the route and programme of the long march, and the police assured us of their cooperation,” he said.

He appealed to law enforcement agencies and traffic authorities to cooperate with the programme and said the organisers would try to keep one lane of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway open.

However, he acknowledged that the large convoy could cause traffic congestion and inconvenience at some points.

“I apologise in advance on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami to everyone whose business or movement may face some difficulty or inconvenience,” Porwar said.

Asked about possible sabotage or attacks, he said the alliance had so far received no information suggesting such a threat.

Porwar also sought cooperation from political parties outside the alliance, saying the programme was linked to public demands and aspirations.

He described the September 5 march as one of the largest political programmes planned by the 11-party alliance since the 13th parliamentary election.