Shafiqur Rahman Warns of Movement if Referendum Verdict Is Not Implemented Before the 9th

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has expressed his determination to implement seven demands with public support. He also warned that a movement would be launched to realise the demands if the government failed to announce the implementation of the referendum verdict before the 9th of the month.

He made the remarks during a roadside rally in the Nawdoba area near the Padma Bridge in Shariatpur on Saturday (October 31), while travelling to participate in a long march to Dhaka, Khulna and Kushtia.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, "If the people stand with us, we will ensure the implementation of all seven demands. We will dismantle and turn everything of the government upside down. A nation that has taken bullets to secure its independence will never bow down to injustice."

The long march has been organised by the 11-party alliance to press for the implementation of its seven-point demands.

The demands include implementing the referendum verdict, bringing justice for the July mass killings, resolving shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser, controlling the rising prices of essential commodities, improving law and order, ending corruption, extortion and land grabbing, and stopping political partisanisation at all levels of the administration.

Alongside Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, senior leaders of the 11-party alliance are also leading the long march.

Speaking at the roadside rally, the Jamaat chief said the central demand of the seven-point programme was the implementation of the referendum verdict. He explained that the remaining six demands had come to the forefront because the main demand had not yet been implemented.

He accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of making a mockery of the people's mandate and misleading the public through false statements and deception. He also alleged that the government wanted to continue authoritarian rule over the people.

At the event, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis President Mamunul Haque said the government must stop playing with people's rights in the name of introducing farmers' cards and family cards. Otherwise, he warned, the people would give the government a final red card.

The roadside rally was presided over by District Jamaat Ameer Abdur Rob Hashemi. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar also addressed the gathering.

Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin Ahmed, along with central and local leaders of the 11-party alliance, was also present at the programme.